The word security for us is sinonimous with state control, restrictions, loss of liberty, etc., but to the ancient Romans, securitas was the feeling of relaxation and confidence that came with good government. She is always depicted leaning comfy on a column, or relaxed on a chair. After all, she is the very personification of the freedom from care that every citizen enjoys when his government is well well managed, competent enough to protect the property rights and other legal priviledges of that citizen, and strong enough to keep it's borders and trade routes safe. Gordian III, 238 - 244 AD Silver Antoninianus, Rome Mint, 22mm, 4.90 grams Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian right. Reverse: SECVTIR PERP, Securitas standing left holding scepter and leaning on column. RIC151 Look at the killer flow lines from the worn obverse and reverse dies. How cool is that? And as a bonus, here is my seated Gordie Securitas in sestertius form. Feel free to comment or post any coins.
@Severus Alexander keep away from my precious roaches with that thing. Wouldn't you rather grab a drink and enjoy the roach party? There's some good music playing tonight. Click on the video, it will play!
I've always liked Securitas as a reverse type, and the elbow-on-a-column pose just suggests a certain divine chillness. Well, that, or low muscle tone. The reverse of mine is not as nice as yours... And since I'm posting a Gordie reverse I like, here's another one I'm fond of that I haven't shared here before. It has Victory using a poor little captive as a shield-rest. GORDIAN III AR Antoninianus. 3.95g, 23.7mm. Rome mint, AD 243-244. RIC IV 154. O: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right. R: VICTOR AETER, Victory, winged, draped, standing left, leaning on shield, and holding palm in left hand; under shield, seated captive.
Yeah, I love the victory reverse type. This one from @Mat is one of my favorite acquisitions from another member. @zumbly, just how many Gordie imperial silvers do you have by now? I'm working on my 19th now.
I have to say, I'm enjoying watching you grow your roach farm. Right now, I have a bit over 40. There are duplicates (they tend to sneak in when I buy large mixed lots), but as it is the current number represents a thinned out herd. It used to be closer to 60, but seeing as I'm no true Gordie connoisseur, I felt I had no business owning that many and sold some off. It's fun to have a little pile of them though .
1/5 of Roman collection, and 1/8 of my entire collection is now Gordian III. Does that make me a connoisseur? I don't know, but what I do know is that I have no regrets. Initially it started out as sort of a joke. I got a few roaches cheap and joked on the forum that I was going to build a whole collection of them...but in reality I was thinking I'd probably sell some down the road. However, it's now become a serious collecting focus for me, and something I'm passionate about. The only other focus that comes close is my overall obsession on numismatics from the Crisis Era of the Third Century...a period that Gordian III also happens to fall into.
