Common as Dirt : a Gordian III Antoninianus

Gordian also comes in a variety of rare ones:


Gordian III, 238 - 244 AD
AE34, Pisidia, Antiochia Mint, 25.23 grams
Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANOVS AVG, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian right.
Reverse: VIBI AVG COL ANTIOCH, Gordian on horseback trampling down and spearing enemy, SR in exergue.
Krzyzanowska 14/69

 

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That one is one good looking provincial. And I love the whole 'The Emperor is a super warrior' bit of propaganda, especially considering his campaign was a disaster and he got murdered by his troops.

 

Lovely, Ken! This mint seems to have struck a large number of big bronzes, many surviving in reasonably good shape, but this isn't one of the common ones at all.

 

Not a huge fan of this time period or of Gordian III so I only have one coin of him (a sestertius). Not that they are hard to find or anything but it kinda feels good to have my first Gordian III be a bronze instead of the really common silver. One of my better deals at only $6 shipped:

 

I really like the third century BIG provincials. So many exotic reverses and IMO a lot more interesting than the imperial series.

 

Rather than show you my GIII ant, here's my GIII and Tranquilina:



THRACE. Mesembria. Gordian III, with Tranquillina. 238-244 AD. Æ 24mm (10.82 g). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Gordian III right, facing diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina left / Demeter standing left, holding grain ears and torch. Varbanov 4188 (same dies).

Also very common, but I love it.

 

Beautiful OP-coin, Z-Bro => very sweet Herc-reverse (it kinda looks like a baseball card)

Ummm, I have three Gordian-III examples ...

Gordian III Cappadocia, Caesarea-Eusebia
Gordian III & calathus with five grain ears




Gordian III, Syria, Decapolis, Gadara
Gordian III & Galley w. Oarsmen




Gordian III AR Antoninianus
Gordian III & Providentia

 

Thanks, Steve. I admit it... I was really sold on the Hercules reverse.

I'm glad you guys are throwing in your excellent provincials as well. It's always seemed to me the case that while Imperial coinage of the early-mid 3rd century started to get dull, this was the heyday of interesting types at the provincial mints.

 

Totally looks like.

 

Since we've moved away from denari here's my one and only Godian III:


Gordian III, AD 238-244
AE, sestertius, 25.46g, 32.5mm; 12h; Rome, AD 238-239
Obv.: IMP CAES MANT GORDIANVS AVG; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev.: VICTORIA AVG; Victory advancing left, carrying wreath and palm; S-C
Ref.: RIC III 258a

 

By Jove, that has got to why I liked it so much!

 

I would like to know just how many Provincial types of Gordian III there are. There are a couple parts of RPC volume VII announced but I'm not sure whether they include everything or if there will be a third. I suspect it will be the largest section but Septimius Severus and family may give him a run for the honor if the whole set is ever completed.

 

Gordian III's birthday is coming up in 9 days. He is going to be a young 1,790. You know what they say these days: 1,790 is the new 1,250.

I hope you guys don't forget this Emperor on his birthday. He may have died young and not done much, but the kid was a decent young emperor during his brief tenure, and not an egomaniac like many other young emperors. He had a lot of promise, and no doubt history would have looked much kinder on him had it not been for Philip the Arab murdering him.

At least he is now forever immortalized as one of the most common portraits on Roman silver coinage.

 

Awesome coins everyone. My two Gordians.

Doug Hill

 

A sweet example Z

 

Sestertius also common: