AR21 - Probus L Α

Probus came to power in 276 AD after the murder of Florian, whose reign lasted fewer than ninety days. Alexandria's mint responded quickly, striking this first-year issue as the new emperor consolidated control over an empire that had seen five rulers in roughly two years. The Alexandrian billon tetradrachm series under Probus is well-documented, and year-one pieces — identified by the L Α regnal date — are among the more obtainable of his Alexandrian issues, the mint having struck in considerable volume from the outset of his reign.

Milne 4522 places this among the earliest sequenced types from the Alexandrian output for Probus, corroborated by Emmett's numbering at 3988(1).