Gordian III and The Battle of Rhesaena

My only Gordian III, "VICTORIA AETERNA" reverse. Alas, it was not to be.

 

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S.J., Thanks for posting this gem grade victory radiate . This coin must have been a very late issue since Gordian is sporting a partial beard . The clever Roman engraver depicted how overwhelming the victory was by putting a tiny captive seated next to a towering victory .

 

They graded it AU. In my searches on the Internet, that's most sharply struck example I have seen although there are higher grade ones.

 

The obverse here shows Gordian III facing his wife Tranquillina. Reverse has Tyche seated, with Centaur over her head. The coin was struck at Singara in Mesopotamia

 

I’ve always liked this early Gordian, I believe from 238. I’m guessing his Victory in this case was surviving 6-emperor game of musical chairs in that year.

 

7Calbrey, Of all the Gordian provincials struck your coin type is one of the most interesting. I found another example of this coin type auctioned by Leu Numis. AG, about two years ago that shows more detail, pictured below.

The turreted & veiled Tyche of Singara is depicted sitting on a rock holding grain ears in her right hand. Above her is the leaping centaur Sagittarius shooting a bow. Below her is Mygdonius, the river god swimming to the left. Coins with this much detail are very rare.

 

O.J. That is a very handsome radiate . It's well struck, perfectly centered, & well engraved. I agree with you, the early coin types are usually the best, & this applies to the radiates struck at Antioch, Syria too .

 

I did not know there were radiates by Gordian II .

But I can supply this NGC graded Sestertius of his (they rated it VF, strike 4/5 - surface 4/5, but did not mention it´s century old pedigree and that it is the Banti plate coin). I freed it from the slab as soon as I got it



So does any ancient source proove that Gordian II really was the uncle of Gordian III?

 

Yes: Dessau, ILS (Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae), 496ff

For any questions on dates and pure biographical data of emperors indispensable:
Dietmar Kienast: Römische Kaisertabelle. 6th edition 2017
no problem to be read by non-German collectors

Unfortunately nothing similar in any other language

 

J.G. That is a very handsome & rare sestertius ! The flan flaw on the obverse should make it very easy to verify as the Banti plate coin .