I picked up this Gordian III, Nikopolis ad Istrum city gate coin a couple of weeks ago. Besides the good detail the obverse portrait looked a little bit weird for Gordian with open lips an bug eyed since buying have only found one of this obverse type and it is a die match so a little bit different to the majority. Nicopolis ad Istrum (Greek: Νικόπολις η προς Ίστρον) was a Roman and Early Byzantine town founded by Emperor Trajan around 101–106, at the junction of the Iatrus (Yantra) and the Rositsa rivers, in memory of his victory over the Dacians. Its ruins are located at the village of Nikyup, 20 km north of Veliko Tarnovo in northern Bulgaria. The town reached its apogee during the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian, the Antonines and the Severan dynasty. Roman Provincial, Moesia Inferior, Nicopolis ad Istrum, Gordian III (238-244 AD) Æ 27 (12.43g) Sabinius Modestus, legatus consularis., City Gate, Obv.: Laureate and draped bust right. Rev.: Arched gate flanked by two roofed towers with arched windows in uppermost story. Varbanov 4182. Rare! NGC XF (Green patina). The towers are actually rounded, raised off the face of the coin. Interesting details on top of the towers and along the top of the wall. Originally in a slab the dealer took it out to send to me. POST YOUR BUG EYED, GORDIAN III OR CITY GATE COINS.
Nice one, AA. Nice portrait and even better reverse. I love that city gate! Here's another bug-eyed Gordie provincial. GORDIAN III AE25. 6.52g, 25.4mm. THRACE, Anchialus, circa AD 238-244. Varbanov 608 (R5). O: ΓOPΔIANOC AV KA; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield. R: AΓXIAΛEΩN; Cybele enthroned left between two lions, holding phiale and resting arm on drum.
Nice addition. I can imagine he'd have been a little wide-eyed when, at age 13, the praetorian guard proclaimed him emperor.
Here is a bug-eye Valerian. Perhaps he is frightened of the Egyptian mummy on the reverse? Anemorion/Anemurium, Valerian, 253-268 AD (dated ЄΤΓ, year 3), AE29, 11.87g Obv: ΑΥ Κ ΠΟ ΛΙ ΟΥΑΛΕΡΙΑΝΟΝ; laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right Rev: ЄΤΓ ΑΝΕ ΝΟΥΡΙΕΩΝ; Mummy shaped cult statue of Artemis facing holding branches, at her feet, stag Lindgren III 798, BMC 12 ex Harlan J Berk, 43rd buy or bid sale, May 1986, lot 365 Clark's Ancient Coins, 2004, lot 641 (Lovette collection)
BUG-EYES: RI AE 16mm Gratian 367-383 Concordia RI Eugenius 392-394 CE AE 12mm Victory RI Valens 364-375 CE AE 17mm Reduced Folles SMAQS Aquilea mint RI Jovian 363-364 AE 20mm Folles LEFT Sinister VOT V RI Magnentius 351-352 CE AE 2 Maiorina 2 Victories holding wreath VOT V It is amazing as I go through my database that EARLIER Roman and Greek portraiture on coins are gorgeous in the EARLIER years, and how they become more crude and rough in LATER years of Rome. It is as if they "lost" their talents.
I possess a fairly wild-eyed Caracalla, also in fact from Nicopolis ad Istrum -- there must've been something in the water over there. Caracalla, Nicopolis ad Istrum, 198-201AD: O: laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right, ΑV. Κ. M. AVΡ. ANTΩNINOC / R: eagle standing facing on thunderbolt, head right, holding wreath in beak, YΠ OOV TEΡTVΛΛOV NIKOΠO ΠΡOC I
That is a fantastic coin, I think it's great that you have it's provenance all the way back to 1986, just had a look at some of the prices people paid.......if only I could go back in time and pick up some absolute bargains.
Just remembered I have this great video of the ancient ruins of Nikopolis ad Istrum, if you watch it you will see the pediment of the temple of Serapis and I have the coin featuring that temple on an Elagabalus coin below.
