A heroic Gordian III from the Antioch Mint.

I hope you guys aren't tired of my Gordies. One can never have too many Gordians, right? I'm one step closer to my dream of owning every Gordie issue there is in denarius and antoninianus form.

Antioch Gordians have a unique style when it comes to the way they rendered Gordian III's face. Definitely looks a bit different from the typical Roman mint bust we are used to seeing. It is not an AU coin, but it is packing good detail and excellent style. The reverse image of the emperor is well rendered by what was clearly a celator with good craftsmanship.

I didn't want to leave my Gordian collection at 13 coins either...13 not being such a lucky number. Or more realistically, I wanted an excuse to get another.


Gordian III, 238 - 244 AD
Silver Antoninianus, Antioch Mint, 24mm, 3.32 grams
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVSFEL AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian right.
Reverse: SAECVLI FELICITAS, Gordian standing right holding globe and spear.
RIC216

The reverse inscription, saeculi felicitas, means the "age of good fortune," and the muscular emperor holding a spear signals the empire's fortune to have a strong military emperor. Got to love that Roman propaganda. Unfortunately reality was different from the theme portrayed on the reverse.


And now, if you don't mind sharing, show off your coins with Emperors featured prominently on the reverse.

 

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Well, I just posted by GIII with emperor reverse the other day, so here's the next one I hit when sorting my pics, Magnentius.



Magnentius, 350-353 AD

O: IM CAE MAGN-ENTIVS AVG, R: FELICITAS REIPVBLICE, Emperor standing facing, head left, holding Victory and Chi-Rho labarum, A in right field, TRS in ex.. Trier mint. 21 mm, 4.0 g

 

Wow, nice coin there. That's one sharp obverse of Magnentius.

 

Do kings on the reverse count for this thread?

Athalaric, Ostrogothic Kingdom
AE decanummium
Obv: INVICT-A ROMA, Roma helmeted, facing right
Rev: D N ATHAL-ARICVS, Athalaric, in military outfit, standing, holding spear and shield, S-C across fields, X in left field
Mint: Rome
Date: 526-534 AD
Ref: BMC 69, COI 85b



(edit: replaced it with a brand-new brighter set of photos)

 

Can't forget my Hispanic gold, with the king on the reverse (in addition to being on the obverse)...

Sisebut, Visigothic Kingdom
AV tremissis
Obv: + SISEBVTVS REX, bust facing
Rev: + TOLETO PIVS, bust facing
Mint: Toledo
Date: 612-621 AD
Ref: Miles 183a

 

Philip II
Silver Double Denarius
Rome mint, A.D. 244-246
Obv: M IVL PHILIPPVS CAES
Rev: PRINCIPI IVVENT - Philip II, standing right, holding globe and scepter
RIC 216(c)
22mm, 4.4g.

 

Here is my left-facing Gordian from Antioch:



AVTOK K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC CЄB / ΔHMAPX ЄΞ VΠA TO B
Radiate, cuirassed bust of Gordianus III left, both pteryges visible /
Eagle standing facing, head left, with wings spread, holding wreath in beak; below, crescent above ram leaping left, head right.
Tetradrachm, Antioch, 242
10,91 g / 26 mm
McAlee 881; Prieur 298

 

Here is a slightly different take on the theme of Philip II on the reverse. He is still clad in armour and holding a globe, but facing the opposite way from yours and holding a scepter instead of a spear.

 

Trajan riding horse Reverse:


RI Trajan AR Denarius 98-117 Riding Horse

 

Sweet Trajan my friend. Our boy Gordian III had a similar reverse. I guess we now know where he got his inspiration.

 

I have to really admire your dedication to Gordie. It really is the case that one man's roaches are another man's royalty . Just speaking for myself, I enjoy each one of your Gordie posts and look forward to your next acquisition.

This one isn't from Antioch and doesn't have Gordie on the reverse, but I thought you would appreciate its unusually deep toning.

GORDIAN III
AR Antoninianus. 3.95g, 22.6mm. Rome mint, AD 243-244. RIC 147. O: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: MARTEM PROPVGNATOREM, Mars, helmeted, in military attire, hastening right, holding transverse spear in right hand and shield in left hand.

 

Part of the problem of recurring GIII threads is remembering which coins I have shown before.


Nicopolis with riding emperor reverse (and major die beak)



Alexandria 4dr but no emperor on reverse, sorry

 

I used to have a MARTEM PROPVGNATOREM antoninianus of Gordie but it was in my first collection I sold (partly to cover college tuition) one of my first acquisitions. Man, I loved that coin.

 

Never too late to get another. Personally, I love that reverse too. It's high on my list of his coins that I still have to get.

 

Superb toning. I am impressed. Whatever you do, don't clean that beauty.

 

Not a chance. GIII silvers are by some majority bright and shiny and not many have more than a hint of toning. Perhaps collectors of past generations didn't think they deserved storage in their nice cabinets. Maybe the next couple of decades will change things.

 

Why put roaches in your cabinet? Just sayin? I've been collecting for a while now. For the longest time I put off buying GIII coins because they were/are so plentiful. Obviously, I've purchased a few over the years, but GIII's have never been a priority for me.

 

I'd say that's actually a misconception. Yes, he does have about 8 or 9 ant reverses that are fairly common, and 5 or 6 denarii reverses that are also fairly common, but there are also quite a few ant and denarii reverses that are not commonly seen at all, and a few that are rare or extremely rare.

Wait until I start hunting some of the rare ones soon enough. You may be surprised at some of the Gordie reverses you never even knew existed.

 

I think this is a rare denarius of Gordie , cant find it online , never managed to put a RIC number on it. Any idear Sallent ?

 

I'll take a look on my RSC catalog and get back to you. I do think I have one with that reverse. I'll check that out too. Give me a few minutes.