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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Magnus Maximus, post: 4611446, member: 73473&quot;]My grandmother gave me a Roman denarius of Emperor Gordian III way back in 2013/4, which got me hooked on ancients. I have 2 large purchases in the upcoming months, so I decided to get myself a cheap snack to satisfy my collecting urge in the meantime.</p><p>I still find it amazing that a beautiful denarius or antoninanus of Gordian III can be easily had for under $75 USD. Even average condition denarii/antoninianii&nbsp; of his, regularly retail between $30-$50 USD.</p><p><br /></p><p>I suspect that the reason little Gordian was so prolific in his silver coinage was due to the army&#039;s salaries which were raised from 900 denarii to 1800 denarii by Maximinus Thrax in 235. To my knowledge, Gordian nor any other succesive Emperor lowered legionary pay while there was still decent coinage in circulation.</p><p><br /></p><p>Anyhow, the silver purity of Gordian&#039;s denarii aren&#039;t too terrible, roughly 43% silver which was the standard from the reign of Elagabalus nearly fifteen years earlier. I am actually impressed that Gordian&#039;s administration was able to continue to use that silver standard, given how chaotic 238 CE was. The average weight of Gordian III&#039;s denarii are 3.14 grams with 1.359 grams of actual silver weight per coin.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1142090[/ATTACH]</p><p>Gordian III. 238-244 AD. AR Denarius (3.24 gm).</p><p>Obverse:</p><p>IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed</p><p>bust right</p><p>Reverse:</p><p>AETER-NITATI AVG, Sol radiate, standing </p><p>half-right, head turned left raising right hand and</p><p>holding globe.</p><p>RIC IV 111; RSC 39.</p><p><br /></p><p>Feel free to post your Gordian III denarii![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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