Probus 280AD Silvered Ancient Roman Coin Sol Sun God w whip Horse i29111

Item: i29111

Authentic Ancient Coin of:

Probus – Roman Emperor: 276-282

A.D. –

Silvered

Bronze Antoninianus 23mm (2.84 grams) Struck at the mint
of Cyzicus circa 280 A.D.
Reference: RIC 911h, C 683
IMP CM AVR PROBVS P F AVG – Radiate bust left, wearing
imperial mantle, holding
scepter with eagle atop.
SOLI INVICTO Exe: CM/XXIS – Sol riding oncoming quadriga,
raising hand and holding whip with globe.

You

Authenticity.

Sol, the Sun. – This glorious luminary was originally regarded

and worshipped by the Pagans as being the most brilliant and the most useful

object in the universe — as constituting by his light and heat the natural

source of life and health both to the animal and vegetable kingdoms, and as

imparting his splendor to the other heavenly bodies, and his glory to the whole

firmament. The more deeply investigations are carried into heathen mythology,

the more clearly it is to be seen that almost all its principal divinities

resolve themselves into an identity with the Sun, to whose predominating

influence over the moon and stars the government and preservation of all things

both in heaven and earth were ascribed. Ancient monuments represent the Sun

under the form of a man, with a youthful face, the head encircled with rays:

sometimes he is mounted on a chariot drawn by winged horses. A horse was

sacrified to him, on account of the great swiftness of that animal, a usage

especially practiced by the Lacedemonians. The Sun was called Mithras by

the Persians; Osiris by the Egyptians.

Marcus

Aurelius Probus

(c. August 19,

232–September/October, 282) was a

Roman Emperor

(276–282).

A native of

Sirmium

(now

Sremska Mitrovica

,

Serbia

), in

Pannonia

, at an early age he entered the army, where

he distinguished himself under the Emperors

Valerian

,

Aurelian

and

Tacitus

. He was appointed governor of the East by

Tacitus, at whose death he was immediately proclaimed

his successor by the soldiers (276).

Florianus

, who had claimed to succeed his

half-brother Tacitus, was put to death by his own troops

after an indecisive campaign. Probus moved to the West,

defeated the Goths acquiring the title of Gothicus

(280), and saw his position ratified by the

Senate

.

The reign of Probus was mainly spent

in successful wars by which he re-established the

security of all the frontiers. The most important of

these operations were directed to clearing

Gaul

of German invaders (Franks,

Longiones

,

Alamanni

and

Burgundians

), allowing Probus to adopt the titles of

Gothicus Maximus and Germanicus Maximus.

One of his principles was never to allow the soldiers to

be idle, and to employ them in time of peace on useful

works, such as the planting of vineyards in Gaul,

Pannonia and other districts, in order to restart the

economy in these devastated lands.

In 279–280, Probus was, according to

Zosimus

, in

Raetia

,

Illyricum

and

Lycia

, where he fought the

Vandals

. In the same years, Probus’ generals

defeated the

Blemmyes

in

Egypt

; Probus ordered the reconstruction of bridges

and canals along the Nile, where the production of grain

for the Empire was centered.

In 280–281, Probus had also put down

three usurpers,

Julius Saturninus

,

Proculus

and

Bonosus

. The extent of these revolts is not clear,

but there are clues that they were not just local

problems^[1].

In 281, the emperor was in Rome, where he celebrated his

triumph

.

Probus was eager to start his eastern

campaign, delayed by the revolts in the west. He left

Rome in 282, moving first towards Sirmium, his birth

city, when the news that

Marcus Aurelius Carus

, commander of the

Praetorian Guard

, had been proclaimed emperor

reached him. Probus sent some troops against the new

usurper, but when those troops changed sides and

supported Carus, Probus’s soldiers then assassinated him

(September/October 282).