The Year of 6 Emperors Challenge

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Sulla80, Jul 17, 2019.

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  1. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    238 AD must have been an interesting year in Rome - 6 emperors - beating the previous record of 5 in 193 AD, and doubling the number in 69 AD. An uprising in North Africa disposed of Maximinus Thrax, Gordian I and II only lasted 20 days, and then 22-Apr-238 the senate elected two emperors Pupienus and Balbinus and subsequently to assuage an angry mob, added a 13-year-old Gordian III to the mix.

    My first Balbinus, an EBay find from a period where I don't know the coin, there aren't many to see in auction databases, I will need a second opinion to be confident in its authenticity.
    Balbinus.jpg
    Balbinus Provincial Bronze coin 24mm 5.50 g.
    Obv: Balbinus laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, seen from three quarters forward, AUT K KAILI BALBEINOS (Caesar Emperor Caelius Balbin).
    Rev: Leto draped facing left walking to the right, holding in her arms Apollo and Artemis, MILHSIWN NEOKORWN (double struck - note the feint second image of Apollo and Artemis)

    Sometime during the reign of the Antonines, burial started to become popular in place of cremation and funeral pyre. In the 3rd Century AD - richly carved sarcophagi became popular. Balbinus is the first emperor to be definitively connected to a sarcophagus. It is quite a richly decorated one:
    Sacaphogus.JPG
    Source: A History of Roman Art, Enhanced Edition by Fred S. Kleiner

    Post your coins from the Year of 6 emperors - The challenge: are all six out there? - opinions on this coin or anything else you find interesting or entertaining welcome too.
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2019
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  3. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    It would be a fun challenge, but I don't fancy paying $3000 for Gordian I and $4000 for Gordian II. None of my coins are above $1000.
     
    Sulla80 and Paul M. like this.
  4. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Excellent job, @Sulla80 !

    I am only 2/3 of the Way...


    MAXIMINUS THRAX
    [​IMG]
    RI Maximinus Thrax 235-238 CE AR Denarius Victory stndg


    BALBINUS
    [​IMG]
    Balbinus, CE 238
    AR Denarius, 20mm, 3.7g, 12h; Rome, CE 238.
    Obv.: IMP C D CAEL BALBINVS AVG; Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right.
    Rev.: VICTORIA AVGG; Victory standing front with wreath and palm.
    Reference: RIC 8
    Ex: @John Anthony


    PUPIENUS
    [​IMG]
    RI Pupienus AR denarius bust r Concordia throne patera dbl cornucopiae Seaby 6


    GORDIANUS III
    [​IMG]
    RI Gordian III 238-244 CE AE As 25mm Hercules S-C
     
  5. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    Gordian I and II are tough ones... I don't envision myself snagging them until I get at least a couple more raises. I've only paid more than $250 for a handful of coins, and I know I wouldn't be happy unless I got a $2,000+ high grade example for each of them. And at that point I would have an existential crisis and wonder why I'm not spending that money on something I need more than two coins.

    I do have the rest, however

    Maximinus thrax victoria avg.jpg Maximus Caesar sestertius PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS.jpg
    Pupienus antoninianus caritas mvtva avgg.jpg Balbinus antoninianus concordia avgg.jpg Gordian III Denarius Sol Aeternitati.jpg
     
  6. octavius

    octavius Well-Known Member

     
  7. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    Gordian III Av Aureus Rv Emperor stg l. RIC 22 240 A.D. 4.97 grms 20 mm gordianav1.jpg
     
  8. octavius

    octavius Well-Known Member

    Finn, I love your Pupie 4090659.jpg 8jDQqkF2z3sH7B6eZBp5nL9WNrk6ai.jpg 4390579.jpg bTs25DcKEa98jwQ6L3om8zMZ6G7f4s.jpg nus Ant, - looks great.
    I have a few of the common Emperors , but no Gordian I or II.
     
  9. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    When filling a year set, I'd prefer using coins struck in that year where possible. This Gordian III Caesar was issued in 238.
    ro0640bb2238.jpg

    Which are the 238 Maximinus issues?
     
  10. Valentinian

    Valentinian Well-Known Member

    Here is an example from year 4, his final year:

    MaximinusPMTRPIIIICOSPPwhite1209.jpg
    PM TRP IIII COS PP (year 4)
    Struck 238 before April [BMC]
    BMC 219
    Sear 8314 (no photo)
    22-19 mm. 2.25 grams.

    This type with TRP and TRP II are common and TRP III less so. This issue with TRP IIII is very small. Maximinus lost control of the Rome mint when the Gordians were proclaimed emperors at Rome in the beginning of April, 238. BMC suggests the mint had been preparing even before that by not issuing many coins in the name of Maximinus in 238.
     
  11. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    a worthy challenge, but i'm afraid old age and shallow pockets(not to mention other collecting interest) shall keep me from that quest..:)..i do have 2 of'em tho.. Gordian lll antoninius 001.JPG Gordian lll antoninius 004.JPG Maximinus l THRAX 003.JPG Maximinus l THRAX 004.JPG
     
  12. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Those two were minted AD 238

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    The following two weren't but depict people who were involved that year

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    I don't get your point, what can you need more than two coins ,

    :D Q
     
  13. 7Calbrey

    7Calbrey Well-Known Member

    Struck possibly in Anchialus, this bronze coin of Maximinus I Thrax has a fish between 2 dolphins on reverse. I don't know in which year it was struck. Hope someone could guess.

    Maxinus1thrx  Anchialus.jpg Maxinusr R     Fish2Dolph.jpg
     
  14. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    I’m also not likely to end up with a Gordian I or II unless a low cost provincial option exists or maybe I win an uncleaned coin lottery - perhaps you have a Gordian III :)
     
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  15. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Wish I had an answer for you Sulla. A coin that nice, but bought off eBay, is one I'd seriously think about sending off to David Sear. Man, I hope it's legit cause that thing is BEAuuuutiful!
    Here's my half of the group:
    4D79ED22-D6AA-4484-93D6-C032269F828C.png
    MAXIMINUS AKA: da Chin

    235-238 AD. AR Denarius (18.55mm, 2.8 gm). Struck January 1, 236-Summer 236 AD. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Emperor standing facing, head left, between two standards, holding inverted spear. RIC IV 3; Alram16-3/B; RSC 55. EF. Attractive portrait.

    20E226E7-3933-46C4-B2B3-4E6217E49336.png
    Maximus.Caesar AKA: Maxipad

    PHRYGIA, Acmoneia. AD 235/6-238. Æ 28mm (12.80 g, 6h). Homonoia with Eumeneia. Bare-headed and draped bust right / Tyche of Acmoneia standing right, holding cornucopia, clasping hands with Tyche of Eumeneia standing left, holding cornucopia. Franke & Nollé 35 (Vs. A/1); Winterthur 4026. Near VF,


    4FACECFA-9F4B-49EC-A438-851F8872AED4.png

    Balbinus AKA: Fluffy

    AR Antoninianus, clasped hands reverse
    Balbinus (238 AD). AR Antoninianus Roma (Rome), April-June 238 AD.
    Obv. IMP CAES D CAEL BALBINVS AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
    Rev. CONCORDIA AVGG, clasped hands.
    RIC IV, 2, p. 170, 10.

    8944D6FE-7AC0-4DD0-9BC2-860A69BC0F18.png

    Gordianus III AkA: da kid & Tranquillina
    Gordianus III. (238-244 AD). With Tranquillina. AE 25 Anchialos, Thrace, c. 241-244
    Obv. AVT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC AVΓ CЄB / TPANKVΛΛINA, laureate, draped and cuirassed�bust of Gordian III. facing draped bust of Tranquillina. Rev: OVΛΠIAC AΓXIAΛE ΩN , Tyche standing left, holding cornucopiaeand patera.AMNG 675.
     
  16. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Nice coin & good luck. Not something I can afford unless it were to be a miss attribution or something.
     
  17. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    I have 4 of the six - no Gordian I or II yet. These Balbinus and Pupienus sestertii are amongst the coins I have paid the most for so far. About $650 a piece at auction.

    balbinus1.jpg

    balbinus2.jpg

    pupienus1.jpg

    pupienus2.jpg
     
  18. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    Finally got around to imaging a recent acquisition, a TRP IIII Maximinus sestertius, minted at Rome during the first few months before he lost the loyalty of that mint.

    imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-PVOijreyG40Vx.jpg

    Bought it to replace this one that I sold about a year ago
    Maximinus Thrax sestertius TR P IIII COS PP.jpg
     
  19. Terence Cheesman

    Terence Cheesman Well-Known Member

    Denarius of Maximus Obv. Head right bare Rv priestly implements RIC 1 235-238 A.D. 3.38 grms 19mm thraxjnr3.JPG
     
  20. Julius Germanicus

    Julius Germanicus Well-Known Member

    Here they are (all Sestertii, including Maximus as a bonus 238 Caesar plus the two Philipps and Decius which were the next in line after Gordian III):

    Bildschirmfoto 2019-07-25 um 14.48.27.png

    Bildschirmfoto 2019-07-25 um 14.48.45.png
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2019
    Andres2, Ryro, Nemo and 12 others like this.
  21. Sulla80

    Sulla80 Well-Known Member

    Amazing set! Many other impressive coins above as well from others - thanks for posting. Here's another Maximinus I Thrax - not specific to year 238.
    Maximinus Thrax.jpg
    Maximinus Thrax (235-238), AR denarius, Rome.
    Obv: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right
    Rev: PROVIDENTIA AVG, Providentia standing left with cornucopia and wand over globe.
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2019
    Andres2, Ryro, Valentinian and 3 others like this.
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