Reverse is a little soft, but I am still pleased with it for 10GBP. Gordian III Coin: Silver Antoninianus IMP CAES GORDIANVS PIVS AVG - radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right PM TR P II COS PP - Gordian standing left, sacrificing over altar from patera. Mint: Rome (AD 238-244) Wt./Size/Axis: 5.35g / 24mm / - References: RIC 54
Nice, My Avatar is from a Gordian III coin. Gordian III. AD 238-244. AR Antoninianus --- 5.3g 23mm 240-243 AD Hercules standing facing, head right, resting right hand on hip and placing left on club set on rock; lion skin beside club. and my only other Antoninianus at the moment Gallienus, AE Antoninianus. Sole Reign. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right / DIANAE CONS AVG, Antelope walking right. RIC V-1, Rome 181 (Sole reign).
You can't go wrong with Gordian III! Very nice, Pish! I sometimes wonder how many of these were minted? I guess it must have been in the millions upon millions, because you can get a nice specimen for $10-$20 Congrats!!
I love the question raised by coins like this. It is my single most frequently ask (of myself) question. This is a very common coin and not the most interesting one of Gordian. Should I pay twice as much and get one like John Anthony's, three times as much and get one like arnoldoe's? Magnus is right about mintage and I'll guarantee there are enough half decent Gordian III antoniniani to give one to every kid who collects coins of any type and might like a coin older than anything he has owned by 1500 years. Most of us would love, love, love to have a coin this nice of Aemelian or one of a dozen other mid level rarities. Who among us has seen a coin this nice of Jotapian or Pacatian? Still many would turn up their noses at a Gordian in less than mint state. Is the coin worth the price paid? I say, yes. If you listed it for sale for a slight profit and fees/expenses, would it be an easy sell? I say demand would be minimal. Will it be worth more in ten years? That is another 'no' in my opinion. Would it still thrill a young/new collector of 2025? It certainly should. At this point I should show my example. I have about 20 Gordian types but not this one. I did not realize that when I first saw this post. Do I need one?
Of course you do, so do I. This is not even remotely my area of collecting but when I saw Pish's example I wanted one for myself. If I had half a dozen I would probably give them all away to young collectors with the hope that they would get the bug as well.
2 opportunities in one day to post this coin! Roman Empire Gordian III (r.238-244) Antioch, Syria (AD 243/44) AR Double Denarius 23 mm x 4.13 grams Obverse: Radiant, Cuirassed Bust of Gordian III right. Latin legend- IMP GORDIANVSPIVS FEL AVG. Reverse: Sol standing left, right hand raised in salute and left hand holding out globe. Latin Legend - ORIENS AVG Ref: RIC 213, Cohen 167 Note: Rare type of Eastern mint.
I don't understand the lack of demand when it comes to Gordian ants. They're large coins of good silver, present many classic Roman themes, and can be had in high grades for modest sums. Fortunately for Ancient Joe, there are EID MAR's to collect, and fortunately for me there are Gordian ants. Are they too common? That's relative. Certainly they're incredibly rare compared to US cents, and there are no lack of collectors in that field. Y'all can give yours away if you want, but I'm keeping mine.
Nah, it's probably a good thing Siliqua are as rare as they are. Less competition= they'll all be mine! Here is a Gordian III Denarius I bought about a year or two ago. I think it was like $30??? The only reason I can think to why Gordian III silvers are so plentiful is that they must have been almost exclusively used to pay the Legions. Note-Maximinus Thrax doubled soldier pay in 235 CE to 1800 Denarii ( thats not even counting donatives and other gifts ) , and from what I can tell Gordian never lowered Legionary pay.
Wow, that's another sweet addition, Pish (congrats!!) ... please keep 'em comin'!! I have three Gordy-III examples: Gordian III (238 - 244 AD). Antoninianus. Mint: Rome. Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordianus Pius III to right. Rev: PROVIDENTIA AVG, providentia standing left, globe and sceptre SYRIA, Decapolis. Gadara. Gordian III AE26 238-244 A.D. Dated CY 303 (AD 239/40) Diameter: 26 mm Weight: 13.34 grams Obverse: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Reverse: Galley left with captain, seven oarsmen, and steersman on deck; ΓT (date) below Gordian III, Cappadocia, Caesarea-Eusebia AE21 238-244 AD Dated RY 4 (AD 240/1) Diameter: AE21 Weight: 8.24 g Obverse: AV K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC, laureate head right Reverse: MHT PO KAI B N, calathus containing five grain ears
Looks like you scored a winner of a lot, pish. Nice! I still remember seeing an auction lot of 400 or 500 ants of Gordian III about two years ago and wondering who on earth might actually want to buy it. I now can think of 4 possibilities: a) a rabid Gordian III specialist b) a dealer who's going to take a long time clearing that stock c) someone with a lot of young relatives that he's going to be annoying with numismatic gifts featuring a certain round headed kid d) JA
A basic collection should have one from the Rome mint and one Eastern. I'm not quite ready to go for 500 of them but do wonder what that lot brought. Rome Eastern Love those sideburns! Denarii are much harder to find but still very common. Sestertii are nice to have, too. That 'basic collection' idea could easily get out of hand.
The problem is when you get a nice Gordian you are going to need a Phillip, a Valerian I and a Shapur and then it gets a little wacky.
You know, I put off buying Gordian III coins for the longest time because they are so plentiful I thought I could wait to buy at a later time. Other coins were more important. Well, I've been buying Gordian III's here and there and now I have a good corral of them. I just received one in the mail this afternoon I haven't imaged yet, but here are a couple. Oh, and BTW, that a nice coin PP. and MM I want that coin!!
