Probus, 276-282. Antoninianus (Silvered bronze, 22 mm, 4.14 g, 12 h), Ticinum, 279. IMP C PROBVS AVG CONS III Radiate bust of Probus to left, wearing consular robes and holding eagle-tipped scepter in his right hand. Rev. VOTIS / X ET XX / FEL in three lines within laurel wreath. Cohen 948. Gysen I 1439. RIC 461. Very rare. An unusually attractive example of this difficult and interesting issue. Slightly rough and with very minor traces of corrosion, otherwise, extremely fine.


The legend VOTIS X ET XX FEL does not mean that Probus had already been ruling for ten or twenty years. Rather, it refers to vows for his future decennalia and vicennalia - that is, for his successful completion of the tenth and twentieth years of his reign. Such vows were often undertaken at the celebration of a reign anniversary for the next regnal period, though they could also be made upon accession or on other occasions. Since this coin records Probus’ third consulship, it can securely be dated to 279, when he was in his fourth regnal year.