Recently, there was a string of posts here where it was noted that Rome had four emperors in the year 69 AD. While that might seem to be a record number of leaders in a year, 238 ADS topped it by two, although it must be pointed out that there were two sets of co-emperors. Denarius of Maximinus I or Thrax, Obverse: IMP MAXIMINUS PIVS AVG “Emperor Maximinus dutiful, patriotic, Augustus.” Reverse: PAX AVGVSTI “Dedicated to the peace provided by the emperor” Pax standing, holding a branch Sear 8310, Ric 312, RSC 31, 31a, Year 235 That year of instability started with Maximinus Thrax in power. Maximinus was a huge man who far more interested in war and military matters than anything else. Since killing off his predecessor, Severus Alexander, Maximinus had spent his time on the northern frontier successfully killing barbarian invaders. The members of the Roman Senate viewed Maximinus as a barbarian, and were concerned about what he would do if he were to come to Rome to claim the throne. Many senators feared for their lives. Denarius of Gordian I Africanus, Obverse: IMP M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG “Emperor Marcus Antonius Gordianus Africanus Augustus” Reverse: ROMAE AETERNAE “To Everlasting Rome” Roma seated on an shield holding victory and sceptre. Sear 8447 Since this fellow has hair above his forehead, He has been indentified as Gordian I Denarius of Gordian II Africanus, Obverse: IMP M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG “Emperor Marcus Antonius Gordianus Africanus Augustus” Reverse: PROVIDENTIA AVGG “Dedicated to the foresight of the two emperors.” Providence standing, legs crossed, leaning on a column, holding a rod and cornucopia with a globe at her feet. Sear 8465 And since this fellow is bald, he is Gordian the younger. Therefore, it was not surprising when the Senate endorsed Gordian I as emperor after the aristocracy in North Africa asked him to accept the crown. Gordian was almost 80 years old and was reluctant to on the responsibility, but he accepted the challenge after he chose his son, Gordian II, to be the co-emperor. Both proceeded to provincial capital in Carthage. In the meantime, the Senate declared Maximinus to be a public enemy and authorized a coinage for Gordian I and II. Despite the fact that Gordian I was the provincial government, he did not have a trained military force at his disposal. All he had were some palace guards and partially trained reservists. Capellianus, who was the governor of Numidia, supported Maximinus and was prepared to defend him. He had a trained legion and marched toward Carthage to depose the new emperors. Gordian II was only able to assemble a rag-tag force of palace guards and poorly volunteers. The results were predictable. Gordian II and his men were slaughtered. When Gordian I heard of their defeat and the death of his son, he committed suicide. Denarius of Balbinus, Obverse: IMP C D CAEL BALBINVS AVG “Emperor caesar Decimus Caelius Balbinus augustus.” Reverse: VICTORIA AVGG “Eternal victory for our emperor.” Victoria with wings, standing holding a wreath and palm frond. Sear 8491 Denarius of Pupienus, Obverse: IMP C M CLOD PVPIENVS AVG “Emperor caesar Marcus Clodius Pupienus augustus.” Reverse: PAX PVBLICA “Peaceful republic.” Pax, seated holding olive branch and scepter, Sear 8526 The death of Gordians lift the Senate with another crisis. They voted to make two of their members, Pupienus and Balbinus co-emperors. Pupienus, who was younger of the two, received the undesirable job, leading an army against Maximinus while Balbinus stayed in Rome to run the government. Maximinus began to move his forces toward Rome, but he was unexpectedly halted at the city of Aquileia when its citizens would not let him pass. Maximinus put the city under siege. As the siege wore on, supplies grew short and the soldiers grew restless. Finally, after a noontime meal, in May or June, Maximinus and his son settled down for nap. During their snooze, a group of soldiers set upon them and killed both of them. The death of Maximinus appeared to settle the issue for Balbinus and Pupienus, but their dislike for one another continued to be an issue. Their popularity faltered. Antoninianus of Gordian III, Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, “Emperor Gordian III dutiful, patriotic, happy augustus” Reverse: FELICITAS TEMPORVM “Happy time.” Felicitas personification of happiness and prosperity Sear 8608 In an effort to shore up their political base, the selected 13 year old Gordian III as caesar and their heir apparent. Gordian, who was the grandson of Gordian I and the nephew of Gordian II, was popular with the army. He was also quite wealthy from the inheritances he had received from his family members. Gordian was immediately granted the right to issue coins. In the meantime, Balbinus and Pupienus continued to act like two tom cats with their tails tied together. Finally the pretorian guard had had enough. They arrested the pair, dragged them through the streets and killed them. Gordian III became the sixth emperor to rule in 238. Antoninianus of Philip I, Obverse: IMP PHILIPPUS AUG, “Emperor Phillip augustus.”) Reverse: VIRTVS AVGG, (“Virtuous augustuses”) Phillip and his son riding horses side by side. Sear 8976 Young Gordian III would rule for six years. Things started to unravel for him when his trusted advisor, Timesitheus, died, perhaps from foul play. Timesitheus’ second in command, Philip the Arab, set out to do the young emperor in, which he did in fairly short order. Philip would run until someone did him in. Such was the way life and death for Roman emperors.
John, Those are handsome looking coins . The denarius of Pupienus looks like a FDC proof-like presentation piece !
..great coins...some very nice and rare examples...i would like to get them all, but alas, i'll not be rich nor live long enough to most likely accomplish that feat(but heck, ive always been 'too tight for tets' anyway).. i do have two tho..like an album of Lynyrd Skynyrd's ...1st &... last Max Thrax sestertius, Gordian lll antoninianus
@johnmilton ! You already WIN! G1 and G2? Tough ones to get. Very nice. SEVERUS ALEXANDER (killed off) RI Severus Alexander 222-235 CE AR Denarius laureate Victory stndg VOT shield foot on helmet RIC 219 THRAX and SON (killed off) Thrax (killed off) RI Maximinus Thrax 235-238 CE AR Denarius Victory stndg Thrax wannabe (killed off) RI Maximinus Thrax JUNIOR 236-238 AE Sestertius Rome mint priestly emblems GI and GII don’t have, but: (killed off) The Two Bickering Poop-Heads! (killed off) Balbinus (killed off) RI Balbinus 238 CE AR Denarius 20mm 3.7g Rome Laureate draped cuirasses - Victory wreath palm RIC 8 Pupienus (killed off) RI Pupienus AR denarius bust r Concordia throne patera dbl cornucopiae Seaby 6 G3 (killed off) RI Gordian III 238-244 CE AE As 25mm Hercules S-C PHILIPS (killed off) PI (killed off) RI Philip I 244-249 CE AR Ant radiate zoo Antelope SAECVLARES 1000 yr anniv Rome PII (killed off) RI Philip II 244-249 Nisibis Mesopotamia-farthest EAST Temple Tyche river god Mygdonius - sinister left Let’s just say that this swath of history was (killed off)
Actually, counting co-emperors there were *SEVEN* Roman Emperors in AD238. Maximinus+Maximus, Gordian1+Gordian2, Balbinus+Pupienus, Gordian3. And all of that from March to July, from the first dust-raising until the final dust-settling. I did an article and a talk on this that I have as a .doc file (which won't upload here). If I find a way to convert it to a .pdf I may upload it later.
I don't think that Maximinus promoted his son Maximus beyond the level of caesar. As such he would not be the seventh emperor. According to David Sear, he was striking handsome, but indolent, and perhaps unhappy with the fact that he had been removed from the Rome's social whirl to go fight barbarians with his father.
