AR Antoninianus of Gordian III: Sol "Aeternitati Avg"

Here is a coin I picked up of some emperor I don't really know a whole lot about.

This emperor is not really cool. So please do not buy any Gordian III coins at all....please! Especially not at Agora Auctions or any other places where one can get great deals on them. Ok?

Now that we got that out of the way, let's look at the coin itself. It is a silver antoninianus of Gordian III with a Sol reverse. This theme is also found on his denarius coins, and I believe he may even have a sestertius with the same reverse theme too.


Gordian III, 238 - 244 AD
Silver Antoninianus, Rome Mint, 22mm, 4.84 grams
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian right.
Reverse: AETERNITATI AVG, Sol standing facing, head left, holding globe and raising hand.
RIC83


I would venture to say that the reverse is certainly one of his more interesting reverse themes. It is Sol right around the time the cult of Sol Invictus was starting to rise to prominence during the early part of the Crisis of the Third Century. The reverse legend, an abbreviated version of AETERNITATI AVGVSTORUM, stands for "Immortal Emperor" and is an attempt to co-opt the properties of the late Roman Empire's sun deity with the emperor, ie. that the emperor was a divine and immortal being, more than just a mere human. I can see why that message would be so popular in these turbulent times where emperors came and went faster than the blink of an eye.

Sol worship became so widespread during the mid-3rd century to late 3rd century that it seriously competed with Christianity, and as far as the 5th Century CE the Roman Catholic Church's authorities were still so fearful of the large following of Sol worshipers that St. Augustine saw the need to actively preach against Sol worship. Perhaps the greatest evidence for the success of Sol Invictus is the fact that we celebrate Christmas today on December 25. As some of you may know, Christmas is a replacement festival the early Christian chuch created to compete with the more popular Roman festival Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, the `Birthday of the Unconquered Sun.`

Share any Gordie or any Sol coins you think relevant.

 

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Nice Gordie @Sallent - I'm still needing one so thanks for the tips

 

I'll just bore you with a few of my Gordys

 

I have one too:

Gordian III
23-21 mm. 3.68 grams.
AETERNITATI AVG, Sol standing facing, head left, holding globe and raising hand.
RIC 83. Sear 8603.

I like the sideburns. He was young and not yet bearded, but his sideburns were growing!

 

I wish I had the sestertius to show but no luck there. Instead I'll offer a Libertas sestertius I found interesting because of the flan that could not decide if it wanted to be round or square.


or the Jupiter sestertius that would be among my best were it not for a little nail problem.

 

Standing Sol has always seemed just a tad cooler than other standing deities to me.

I wish I had a nicer sestertius to show, but we have what we have, and we'll shamelessly show it too .

 

That Libertas sestertius is a real beauty. Heck, the Jupiter one is nice too despite the nail problem.

 

Nice. I know you are a Gordie fan too. You know what amazes me? 15 silver Gordies and a few bronze provincials later, and I've only just scratched the surface. There is still so much for him out there....heck, even narrowing it down to imperial silver still leaves me with a ton of material still waiting to be collected. Gordian III truly is the emperor that keeps on giving as far as sheer number of variety.

 

You've just reminded me I need to get more Gordies. What's your bidder handle on Agora again? That way I can tell which are the really good ones. Thanks, bud!

 

I'm partial to his marriage commemoratives, but here are some imperial issues:

 

...my only Gordian 3 ..like big O's latest..AND my ticket into the frat house

 

Nice!

 

I like all four, but have to admit to being partial to the first since it's one of mine .

 

Provincials from Greece, Serbia and Mesopotamia:

 

The abundance of extant Gordies and their generally good condition and reasonable prices certainly makes for an appealing niche! Be glad you haven't become enamored of Hadrian or A-Pi. Those emperors have mind-boggling numbers of different issues across the empire. @Okidoki is making a good run at collecting Hadrian's bronze and silver but it's hard to imagine ever even "finishing" a set of just his Alexandrian provincials, much less the remaining provinces and imperials!

My favorite Gordies are provincials . Here are three I love and there are surely more I will chase.


THRACE, Hadrianopolis. Gordian III
AE 18 mm, 2.59 gm
Obv: AVT K M ANT ΓORΔIANOC AVΓ; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: AΔPIANOΠOΛEITΩN; ostrich running like stevex6 is chasing it with a basting brush
Ref: Varbanov 3833, rare
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-now-extinct-animal-on-a-roman-coin.287175/


THRACE, Hadrianopolis. Gordian III
AE 22 mm, 5.18 gm
Obv: AVT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC; radiate head right
Rev: AΔPIANOΠOΛЄITΩN; Pan advancing left, holding syrinx and lagobolon
Ref: Varbanov 3945 corr. (cantharus in place of syrinx). Rare.
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-fully-loaded-pan.287115/


CILICIA, Seleucia ad Calycadnum. Gordian III
238-244 CE
Æ 27 mm, 11 gm
Obv: ...ΓOPΔIANO radiate and draped bust right; C/M dot within triangle (Howgego 670?)
Rev: CEΛEVKEΩN; Athena advancing right, holding her shield with her extended left arm & preparing to hurl a spear at an anguipede giant (Enceladus?) who is throwing stones at her.
Ref: c.f. SNG Levante 763
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-gigantomachy.283117/

 

You gained a few more on me. I'll have to step up my game.
Considering my age and how many G III coins even just imperial by themselves. I don't think I could get them all, atleast not in this lifetime. But I can try.

 

I'm less than sure of the relative numbers of coins of each of the emperors mentioned or those between them but we all must admit a complete Provincial set is not going to happen. For those not aware of it, there is an online reference in progress (not even near completion) that might be of interest.
http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/

 

Non-AR Gordian:


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

 

Here's an ant...





I agree, one can never get enough Gordies.

 

One of mine