At the start of the reign of the emperor Probus (276-82) there were three Asian mints striking Roman coins, Cyzicus, Antioch and Tripolis. French numismatist Sylviane Estiot refers to a mysterious Roman mint that operated briefly in the late 3rd century AD, during the reign of Probus. Estiot proposed that this mint was established in Asia Minor, somewhere in Phrygia, to compensate for the loss of Antioch, which was seized by the usurper Saturninus in 280. The mint produced coins of the types CLEMENTIA TEMP and RESTITVT ORBIS, which were similar to those of Antioch, but with some stylistic and legend differences. Estiot based her hypothesis on a detailed analysis of the coins and their die links, published in a 2015 article titled “L’empereur et l’usurpateur: un 4e atelier oriental sous Probus”. However, the exact location and chronology of this mint remains uncertain and debated by other scholars
According to Estiot, the coins of Antioch and the fourth eastern mint can be distinguished by some stylistic and legend differences, such as:
• The letter M at Antioch is usually rendered similar to IVI while at the new mint it’s fully formed.
• The lettering in general is higher and wider, with a more standardized shape and module throughout the legend, both on obverse and reverse on the coinage of the new mint.
• While Antioch during this period 277-80 employs both AVG and PF AVG for the Imperial title, the new mint only uses the full PF AVG.
• The bust style on the coinage of the new mint is sharper with stronger features, most obvious in the shape and dimension of the eye.
• On the reverse of some coins from Antioch there is a simple globe while the new mint has a globe surmounted by a Victory.
Further reading
Estiot, S, “L’empereur et l’usurpateur: un 4e atelier oriental sous Probus”, in Bland, R, and Calamino, D, Studies in Ancient Coinage in Honour of Andrew Burnett, 2015, pp 259-76
