Featured GORDIAN'S DAY (July 29th)

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Ocatarinetabellatchitchix, Jul 29, 2020.

  1. Ocatarinetabellatchitchix

    Ocatarinetabellatchitchix Well-Known Member

    [​IMG]

    July 29th 238
    Balbinus and Pupienus are murdered by the Praetorians, and Gordian III is declared Augustus. At the age of 13, he became the youngest sole legal Roman Emperor throughout the existence of the united Roman Empire. Sadly, he was not chose for his intelligence or his commanding habilities ; the greek historian Herodian wrote about his accession to the throne : " the praetorians took up Gordian Caesar and proclaimed him emperor, since at the moment they could find no other candidate for the office. (History of the Roman Empire 8.8.7)

    [​IMG]

    He ruled for about six years and at the age of 16 he was married to Furia Sabinia Tranquillina, daughter of the newly appointed praetorian prefect, Timesitheus. His new father in law took quickly the control of the Empire. He spent the last three years of his reign defending successfully the borders of the empire, and history tell us that he even open the doors of the Janus' temple ( for the last time in Roman annals). What kind of person was he ? Historia Augusta has an interesting description of his personality: He was a light-hearted lad, handsome, winning, agreeable to everyone, merry in his life, eminent in letters; in nothing, indeed, save in his age was he unqualified for empire. Before Philip's conspiracy he was loved by the people, the senate, and the soldiers as no prince had ever been before. Cordus says that all the soldiers spoke of him as their son, that he was called son by the entire senate, and that all the people said Gordian was their darling. (31,4) For collectors like us, this Emperor is probably the easiest to get and we can acquire high grade specimens at very reasonable prices. With over 90 different reverse type, I'm curious to see how many we can display in this thread. So please show us your nicest Gordians !

    IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG
    AETERNITATI AVG
    Sol raising hand in salute & holding globe
    RIC 83
    0D1E2AE6-B2E6-46DB-AEB0-D6CD49876274.jpeg

    And why not a Tetradrachm from Antioch
    D5CB3B3A-7534-455D-8C3D-01AC5484B9B0.jpeg
     
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Orielensis

    Orielensis Well-Known Member

    Some favorites of Geordie the Third:

    Great provenance:
    Rom – Gordian III, Antoninian, Virtus m. Schild.png
    Gordian III, Roman Empire, antoninianus, 238–239 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG; bust of Gordian III, radiate and draped, r. Rev: VIRTVS AVG; Virtus standing l., leaning on shield and holding spear. 22mm, 5.00g. Ref: RIC IV Gordian III 6. Ex Otto Helbing Nachf., München, Auction 86 (11/15/1942), lot 1758 (on ticket, in catalogue: 1757); ex AMCC 2, lot 464.


    Good reverse:
    Rom – Gordian III, antoninian, Herkules.png
    Gordian III, Roman Empire, AR antoninian, 241–243 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG; bust of Gordian III, radiate, draped, cuirassed, r. Rev: VIRTVTI AVGVSTI; Hercules, nude, standing r., r. behind back and resting l. hand on club set on rock; beside club, lion-skin. 22mm, 3.49g. Ref: RIC IV Gordian III 95. Ex Classical Ancient Coins.

    Denarius:
    Rom – Gordian III, denar, Adventus-Typ.png
    Gordian III, Roman Empire, denarius, 240–241 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG; bust of Gordian III, laureate and draped, r. Rev: P M TR P III COS P P; Gordian on horseback riding l., raising r. hand and holding spear or sceptre in l. 20mm, 2.66g. Ref: RIC IV Gordian III 81. Ex Auktionen & Münzhandel Dr. Christoph Stadler (Bremen); ex Münzbörse Stadtwaage (Bremen).
     
    Limes, galba68, TIF and 15 others like this.
  4. I'll share a Fides Militum type:

    RIC 001 RSC 086 SEAR 8609.jpg
    Gordian III
    AR Antoninianus, 4.29g
    Obv: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG; Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
    Rev: FIDES MILITVM; Fides standing left, holding standard and scepter.
    Mint: Rome, 238-239 CE
    References: RIC IV 1, RSC 86
     
    Limes, galba68, TIF and 13 others like this.
  5. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    LAETITIA AVG N
    Gordian III - Ant Laetitia ex Michael Kelly 3001.jpg

    MARTEM PROPVGNATOREM
    Gordian III - Mars 2182.jpg

    LIBERATAS (sic) AVG III
    Gordian III - Liberalitas error 1066.jpg
     
    Limes, galba68, TIF and 15 others like this.
  6. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Did you mean he 'closed' the doors? The temple doors were only closed when Rome was at peace everywhere. The doors were usually open as war was the natural state for Rome.

    Mars Propug from Rome
    ro0505fd2828.jpg

    Oriens from the Eastern mint
    ro0610bb2004.jpg
    sestertius as Caesar under Balbinus and Pupienus
    ro0640bb2238.jpg
    before he was married, Gordian was joined on the twin bust coins of Marcianopolis by Serapis
    po2030b01965alg.JPG
    Nikopolis with Hermes
    po2060b02363lg.jpg
    Hadrianopolis with Apollo
    po2100b2335lg.jpg
    Caesarea with Mt. Argaeus
    po2144fd2720.jpg
    Anchialus with Tranquillina and Aesclepius
    po2260b01986lg.jpg
    A great number of these year six Alexandrian tetradrachms with Serapis have hit the market in the last few years. I paid too much before discovering the seller had a bunch and was not offering the best ones first.
    pa2170fd2208.jpg
     
    Limes, galba68, TIF and 18 others like this.
  7. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    Happy Gordian's Day! :)
    A Victory for his Victory :)
    Gordian III Ant.jpg
     
    Limes, galba68, TIF and 15 others like this.
  8. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

  9. Alegandron

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

    Gordian III
    [​IMG]
    RI Gordian III 238-244 CE AE As 25mm Hercules S-C
     
    TIF, PillarsOfEternity, Ryro and 10 others like this.
  10. ancientone

    ancientone Well-Known Member

    A recent Gordian find.
    deultum2.jpg
    Thrace, Deultum. Gordian III AE24
    Obv: GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield.
    Rev: COL FL PAC DEVLT, Zeus standing front, looking left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre.
     
    Limes, galba68, TIF and 13 others like this.
  11. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Apollo
    gordian3.jpg

    gordian4.jpg

    Roma Aeternae
    gordian6.jpg

    gordian7.jpg

    Aeternitas/Sol
    gordaetern.jpg

    Viminacium, Moesia
    gordian1.jpg

    gordian2.jpg
     
    Limes, galba68, TIF and 11 others like this.
  12. Archeocultura

    Archeocultura Well-Known Member

    Older bust, reminding of Gordian II IV-III 0004 Gordianus III 4 8 nt 047.jpg
     
    Limes, galba68, TIF and 9 others like this.
  13. Hermann Watzlawik

    Hermann Watzlawik Well-Known Member

    SAM_2731a.JPG SAM_2730aa.jpg
    Av: AVT KM ANTΩNINOC ΓOPΔIANOC draped bust of Gordian with laurel wreath to the right, and bust of the "great God" (Θεόs Mέγas) to the left with Kalathos (basket)
    Rev: ΘΔHCCE(I)TΩ, Athena standing to the left, in right hand phiale (cup), the left
    leaning on spear, shield on ground, E on top of left side

    I bought this coin from Schenk-Behrens Auktion 39, 9.-11.5.1979 # 432, Lot of 6 Bronze coins for 55,00 DM
     
    Limes, galba68, TIF and 9 others like this.
  14. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    Here is Venus:
    [​IMG]
    Gordian III, Ruled 238-244 AD
    AR Denarius, Struck 241 AD, Rome Mint

    Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
    Reverse: VENVS VICTRIX, Venus, draped, standing left, leaning on shield, holding helmet in right hand and sceptre in left hand.
    References: RIC IV 131
    Size: 20.5mm, 2.74g


    A reverse with the emperor himself:
    [​IMG]
    Gordian III, Ruled 238-244 AD
    AR Denarius, Struck 241-243 AD, Rome mint

    Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
    Reverse: P M TR P III COS II P P, Emperor in military attire, standing right, holding transverse spear in right hand and globe in left hand.
    References: RIC IV 115
    Size: 20.5mm, 2.5g


    Here is Pax:
    [​IMG]
    Gordian III, Ruled 238-244 AD
    AR Antoninianus, Struck 238-239 AD, Rome or Antioch mint
    Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, bust of Gordian III, radiate, draped, cuirassed, right.
    Reverse: PAX AVGVSTI, Pax, draped, standing front, head left, holding branch in extended right hand and transverse sceptre in left hand.
    References: RIC IV 3 or 189
    Size: 22mm, 5.16g


    And here is Fortuna:
    [​IMG]
    Gordian III, Ruled 238-244 AD
    AR Antoninianus, Struck 243-244 AD, Rome mint

    Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
    Reverse: FORT REDVX, Fortuna seated left, holding rudder and cornucopiae; wheel beneath.
    References: RIC IV 143
    Size: 24mm, 4.29g
     
    Limes, galba68, TIF and 10 others like this.
  15. Nathan401

    Nathan401 Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

  16. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    I find his coinage (and other emperors of the era) of Viminacium interesting... We've seen the more commonly seen sestertius equivalent already posted in here, so I'll add to that with a dupondius equivalent (I'm on the hunt for the even smaller AE denarius equivalent):
    [​IMG]
    Gordian III, Ruled 238-244 AD
    AE Dupondius, Moesia, Viminacium
    Struck 242/243 AD (RY 4)
    Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, Radiate, draped bust right.
    Reverse: PMS C-OL VIM, Moesia standing with head to the left holding her right hand over a bull and her left hand over a lion, AN IIII below (RY 4 = 242/243 AD).
    Reference: Cohen 427
    Size: 23mm, 6.9g
     
    Limes, galba68, TIF and 9 others like this.
  17. Julius Germanicus

    Julius Germanicus Well-Known Member

    Bildschirmfoto 2019-11-04 um 21.31.22.png

    IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG - Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind /
    P M TR P V COS II P P S C - Gordian III, in military attire, advancing right, holding transverse spear and globe
    Sestertius, Rome 242 (10th emission of Gordian III)
    29,81 mm / 20,61 gr / 2 h
    RIC 307a, Cohen 267, Banti 75 (19 specimens), Sear 8731 var(TRP IIII), Brown (The Coinage of Gordian III) p. 7, Issue 4(b)
     
    Limes, galba68, TIF and 9 others like this.
  18. robinjojo

    robinjojo Well-Known Member

    That's a nice write-up.

    Here's a provincial BI tetradrachm acquired last year:

    Gordian III BI Tetradrachm of Antioch, Seleucis and Pieria. AD 241-244. AYTOK [K M ANT ΓOP]ΔIANOC CEB, radiate and cuirassed bust left, holding spear and shield with gorgoneion / ΔHMAPX E Ξ VΠATO B, eagle standing facing with wings spread, head and tail left, holding wreath in beak; between legs, crescent and ram leaping left, head right. McAlee 884; Prieur 299 (same dies). 10.84g, 26mm, 11h.

    VF with good detail.

    [​IMG]
     
    Limes, galba68, TIF and 8 others like this.
  19. gogili1977

    gogili1977 Well-Known Member

    Gordian III - VICTOR AETER
    image - Copy.jpg
    Gordian III - SECVRIT PERP
    image(1) - Copy.jpg
    Gordian III - Viminacium - dupondius
    image(2).jpg
     
  20. robinjojo

    robinjojo Well-Known Member

    Here are a couple of more Gordian bronze provincial coins.

    This coin was purchased post-auction. I was a bit surprised that it did not receive any bids. I guess this was due to the crude strike and somewhat rough surfaces. Still, it is a very interesting coin, with the agonistic table on the reverse.

    Gordian III Æ29 of Anchialus, Thrace. AD 238-244. AVT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC AVΓ, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right / OVΛΠIANΩN AΓXIAΛЄΩN, agonistic table surmounted by prize urn containing two palms, and two purses; amphora below, E in exergue. Corpus Nummorum Online 5851. 13.50g, 30mm, 6h.

    Near Very Fine.

    [​IMG]


    The other coin came out of auction recently. This coin is almost medallic in appearance.

    Gordian III Æ34 of Antioch, Pisidia. AD 238-244. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / CAES ANTIOCH COL, Lupa Romana standing to right below Ficus Ruminalis, head left, suckling twins Romulus and Remus; SR in exergue. Krzyzanovska dies XII/64; SNG France 1196 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen 69. 26.82g, 33mm, 8h.

    Good Very Fine.

    [​IMG]
     
  21. Alwin

    Alwin Well-Known Member

    [​IMG]

    GORDIAN III, Tetradrachm
    Antioch, 240
    12.48 g - 25 mm
    Prieur 282
    AYTOK K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC CЄB, Laureate bust right
    ΔHMAPX ЄΞOYCIAC, Eagle facing, head to left - SC
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page