"Rare" Gordian III denarius: Emperor on horseback

Here is another Gordian III goodie to show off...I think my 11th or 12th Gordian III (I'll have to check on that). Anyway, this one came from our dearest friend and fellow collector @Ken Dorney .

This is another one of those famous RIC "rarities" that continues to pop up often enough as to suspect it may be a little more common than the catalog suggests.

The reverse theme, Gordian III on horseback, is similar to the Adventus types that were so popular in the mid to late 3rd century.

For some reason this particular issue suffers from weak strikes all around, but this one is struck a little more bold than is typical of the issue.



Gordian III, 238 - 244 AD
Silver Denarius, Rome Mint, 20mm, 2.99 grams
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS PP AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian right.
Reverse: PM TR P III COS PP, Gordian on horseback left holding spear and raising hand.
RIC81, Rare

Post any Emperor on horseback types you have, or any other coins you feel are appropriate. I don't know why, but I believe our friend @Smojo might have one of these.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

They're are far from rare, but nice coin though.

 

I know, that's why I said "rare" and said RIC was wrong. I would definitely say it is far from common, but obviously not rare.

 

Ha, not yet I don't. I'm waiting on the RIC 95 (I'm thinking ) Hercules/Virtas to get delivered, yeah I went ahead and bought it.
Nice addition though @Sallent I do still have it on my Vcoins want list.
Ah hell, I just noticed ok it was on my watch list on vcoins, lol . So it is a nice coin.

 

Nice one Sallent! I have one just like yours....

 

Cool addition, Sallent ... I love the "emperor on horseback" (total winner)

 

Looks great! Looks like you feeding that Gordy-Hoardy obsession @Sallent !

I only have ONE Gordian III, and it is an As, and I only have ONE Emperor on Horseback...

I do not think either are as Scarce as yours by a long-shot...


RI Geta AR Denarius 209-211 CE Geta On horse spearing enemy



RI Gordian III 238-244 CE AE As 25mm Hercules S-C

 

Gordian III is a neat Emperor, all his coins are easy to get in high quality, even the aurei/ for a reasonable prices....unlike the first two Gordians

 

A very respectable coin Sallent!

Here is one with Domitian on horseback, possibly holding a sceptre mounted by a human skull(!).


Domitian Caesar
AR Denarius, 3.46g
Rome mint, 73 AD
RIC V541 (R2), BMC V129 var., RSC 664
Obv: CAES AVG F DOMIT COS II; Head of Domitian, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: No legend; Domitian on horse l.; r. hand raised, sceptre in l.
Ex Gemini X, 13 January 2013, Harry N. Sneh Collection, lot 701. = Helios, eBay, 29 November 2010 (A. Lynn Collection).

 

Look in RSC Volume 4. For the relatively short reign he has quite a bit in silver alone.

 

Congrats @Sallent !!! That's a terrific denarius...and P-Man's example is way cool too!!!

As far as I recall, I only have a 'poor man's version' of the super coin David posted:

Silver denarius, RIC II, part 1, Vespasian 957; RSC II 49; BMCRE II 234; BnF III 207; Hunter I p. 247, 13; SRCV I 2638, F, toned, Rome mint, 3.367 grams, 18.1 mm, die axis 90o, as caesar, 77 - 78 A.D.; obverse CAESAR AVG F DOMITIANVS, laureate head right; reverse horseman (Domitian?) prancing right, wearing helmet and military garb, cloak flying behind, right hand flung up and back, COS V in exergue.

 

Yeah, I'm not going to lie, @panzerman 's example makes mine look like bird poop, but that's my Gordian III bird poop and I'm damn proud of owning it.

PS: Sweet Domitian @Mikey Zee

 

I remember a horrific event from my childhood. My friend and I decided to play cowboy and Indians. We mounted two farm horses, and trotted off, well upon firing our cap guns.....you guessed it, the horses got spooked, and we ended with sore bums

 

Funny you mentioned that, when I was eight I went to my uncle's farm in the countryside. I had been watching a new kids series on Cuban television, Zorro. Well, the Zorro in the series always pulled on the reigns of his horse and the horse would stand on 2 legs.

I wanted to do the same, so I got on a horse and pulled the reigns hard. I ended up sliding back and falling off the rear of the horse and landed on a fresh steamy pile of horse feces that had probably come out of the animal's rear end only a few seconds prior.

I don't think I'll ever forget that.

 

No likes for you

 

There are a finite number of types of denarii of Gordian III. One could attempt to collect them all. Here is my coin of the OP type:


PM TRP III COS PP
TRP III = 240/1.

 

Sallent/Great story, I used to watch Zorro as a kid too We have lots in common/outside of butterflies
Here is a really good poop epic. When we were growing up on my parents chicken farm (had 10K laying hens) The barn was 300 feet, with the hens in cages/ below them a sort pit to catch their poop. During the hot summer months these "pits" were filled to the brim with liquid manure/ my Dad would clean this mess every three weeks. One day, my sister and brother were goofing around, my sister ended up in the poop/ covered completely....it was memorable.

 

Ah, poop stories... I grew up farming: cattle, sheep, horses, worked for veterinarian... BUNCHES of experiences and stories...

 

Nice example, Sallent.
Rare or 'merely' scarce. No matter. It is a great example!