Antoninianus - Probus PAX AVG or PAX AVGVSTI, Pax

Historical Context: This Antoninianus, issued 276-282 AD, belongs to Emperor Probus's reign, a pivotal period during the tumultuous Crisis of the Third Century. A highly capable military commander, Probus rose to stabilize a fractured Roman Empire, repelling barbarian invasions and quelling usurpations. The reverse inscription, PAX AVG or PAX AVGVSTI, explicitly underscores his primary objective: to restore peace and order after decades of warfare and political instability, a promise largely fulfilled before his assassination.

Artistry: The anonymous engravers of Probus’s mints followed the Roman Imperial stylistic tradition, with a late 3rd-century emphasis on militaristic, less idealized portraiture. The obverse typically features a laureate, cuirassed, and often radiate bust of Probus, conveying strength and authority. The reverse depicts Pax, goddess of peace, standing left, gracefully holding an olive branch, a universal symbol of peace, and a sceptre. This iconographic choice served as powerful state propaganda, associating the emperor with stability.

Technical/Grading: Key high-points for assessing wear include the emperor's hair, nose, and the highest points of his radiate crown and cuirass on the obverse. On the reverse, Pax's face, hair, olive branch, sceptre, and prominent drapery folds are critical. Technically, antoniniani of this period often exhibit flan irregularity and off-centering. Strike quality varies, with die wear sometimes evident. The specified 4.1-gram weight is robust for the type, indicating a relatively well-preserved example.