PROBUS. 276-282 AD. Æ 34mm Medallion (22.85 gm). Struck late 281 AD. Rome mint. IMP PROBV-S P F AVG, laureate and cuirassed bust right, holding spear and shield decorated with adventus scene MONETA A-VG, the three Monetae standing facing, all with heads left, each holding scale above a stack of coins at their feet, and cornucopiae. Gnecchi II pg. 118, 24 and pl. 120, 5; K. Pink, "Die Medaillonprägung unter Kaiser Probus," NZ 76 (1955), pg. 21, 20/19 (this medallion); Cohen 376. VF, brown patina with traces of gilding, light reverse porosity. Very rare. ($10,000) For the greater part of the third century the standard reverse type for the silver (later billon) medallions was the Tres Monetae, representing the work of the mint in its three different branches . aes, argentum, and aurum (bronze, silver, and gold). Moneta was the presiding goddess of the Roman mint and is depicted holding a pair of scales, symbolic of the care taken to maintain the integrity of the currency. This deity made her first appearance on the Roman imperial coinage under Domitian, though her head had already occurred on several denarius types of the late Republic. Issued under the energetic Probus, an emperor noted for the extraordinary complexity of his coinage, this specimen is one of an impressive series of such medallions. Depicting a wide variety of obverse busts, usually of a military nature, the Roman die-engravers took great pains to render their subject in elaborate detail. Triton V Sale, 16 Jan 2002, lot 2121. Lot was unsold. By permission of CNG, www.cngcoins.com.