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Probus – Roman Emperor: 276-282 A.D.
Bronze Antoninianus 21mm (3.37 grams)
Siscia mint 279-280 A.D.
Reference: RIC 666-Cohen163 ; Sear 11967.
IMP PROBVS P F AVG, helmeted, radiate, cuirassed bust left, holding spear
and shield
CONCORDIA MILIT, Probus and Concordia standing face to face, clasping
hands.
Mintmark P/XXI
You are bidding on the exact item pictured, provided with a Certificate of Authenticity and Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity.
In ancient Roman religion, Concordia is the goddess who embodies
agreement in marriage and society. Her Greek equivalent is usually regarded
as Harmonia, with musical harmony a metaphor for an ideal of social concord
or entente in the political discourse of the Republican era. She was
thus often associated with Pax (“Peace”) in representing a stable society.
As such, she is more closely related to the Greek concept of homonoia
(likemindedness), which was also represented by a goddess.
Concordia Augusta was cultivated in the context of Imperial cult.
Dedicatory inscriptions to her, on behalf of emperors and members of the
imperial family, were common.
In art
In art, Concordia was depicted sitting, wearing a long cloak and holding
onto a patera (sacrificial bowl), a cornucopia (symbol of prosperity), or a
caduceus (symbol of peace). She was often shown in between two other
figures, such as standing between two members of the Imperial family shaking
hands. She was associated with a pair of female deities, such as Pax and
Salus, or Securitas and Fortuna. Paired “Security and Luck” could also be
represented by Hercules and Mercury.
Temples
The oldest Temple of Concord, built in 367 BC by Marcus Furius Camillus,
stood on the Roman Forum. Other temples and shrines in Rome dedicated to
Concordia were largely geographically related to the main temple, and
included (in date order):
- a bronze shrine (aedicula) of Concord erected by the aedile Gnaeus
Flavius in 304 BC “in Graecostasis” and “in area Volcani” (placing it on
the Graecostasis, close to the main temple of Concord). He vowed it in
the hope of reconciling the nobility who had been outraged by his
publication of the calendar, but the senate would vote no money for its
construction and this thus had to be financed out of the fines of
condemned usurers. It must have been destroyed when the main temple was
enlarged by Opimius in 121 BC.
- one built on the arx (probably on the east side, overlooked the main
temple of Concord below). It was probably vowed by the praetor Lucius
Manlius in 218 BC after quelling a mutiny among his troops in Cisalpine
Gaul, with building work commencing in 217 and dedication occurring on 5
February 216.
- a temple to Concordia Nova, marking the end Julius Caesar had
brought to civil war. It was voted by the senate in 44 BC. but was
possibly never built.
- a temple built by Livia according to Ovid’s Fasti VI.637‑638 (“te
quoque magnifica, Concordia, dedicat aede Livia quam caro praestitit
ipsa viro” – the only literary reference to this temple). The
description of the Porticus Liviae follows immediately, and it is
probable therefore that the temple was close to or within the porticus,
but the small rectangular structure marked on the Marble Plan (frg. 10)
can hardly have been a temple deserving of the epithet “magnifica” (HJ
316).
In Pompeii, the high priestess Eumachia dedicated a building to Concordia
Augusta.
Modern religion
Harmonians and some Discordians equate Concordia with Aneris. Her
opposite is thus Discordia, or the Greek Eris.
 Probus (Latin: Marcus Aurelius Probus Augustus; c. 19 August 232 – September/October 282), was Roman Emperor from 276 to 282.
During his reign, the Rhine and Danube frontier was strengthened after successful wars against several Germanic tribes such as the Goths, Alamanni, Longiones, Franks, Burgundians, and Vandals. The Agri Decumates and much of the Limes Germanicus in Germania Superior were officially abandoned during his reign, with the Romans withdrawing to the Rhine and Danube rivers.
Early life
Born in 232 in Sirmium (modern day Sremska Mitrovica), Pannonia Inferior, the son of Dalmatius.
Military career
Probus entered the army around 250 upon reaching adulthood. Appointed as a military tribune by the emperor Valerian, he later distinguished himself under the emperors Aurelian and Tacitus. He was appointed governor of the East by Tacitus, whose death in 276 prompted Probus’ soldiers to proclaim him emperor.
Florianus, the half-brother of Tacitus, was also proclaimed successor by his soldiers, but he was killed after an indecisive campaign. Probus travelled west, defeating the Goths along the lower Danube in 277, and acquiring the title of Gothicus. His position as emperor was ratified by the Senate around this time.
As emperor
Sculpted head of Probus from Brescia in northern Italy.
In 278, Probus campaigned successfully in Gaul against the Alamanni and Longiones; both tribes had advanced through the Neckar valley and across the Rhine into Roman territory. Meanwhile, his generals defeated the Franks and these operations were directed to clearing Gaul of Germanic invaders (Franks 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. Of a greater and more lasting significance, Probus began the strategy of settling the Germanic tribes in the devastated provinces of the empire.
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 then ordered the reconstruction of bridges and canals along the Nile, where the production of grain for the Empire was centered.
In 280-281, Probus 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 (an inscription with the name of Probus erased has been found as far as Spain). 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, travelling first towards Sirmium, his birth city.
Assassination
Different accounts of Probus’s death exist. According to Joannes Zonaras, the commander of the Praetorian Guard Marcus Aurelius Carus had been proclaimed, more or less unwillingly, emperor by his troops.
Probus sent some troops against the new usurper, but when those troops changed sides and supported Carus, Probus’ remaining soldiers assassinated him at Sirmium (September/October 282). According to other sources, however, Probus was killed by disgruntled soldiers, who rebelled against his orders to be employed for civic purposes, like draining marshes. Carus was proclaimed emperor after Probus’ death and avenged the murder of his predecessor.
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