This is my first post to Coin Talk. I'm fairly new to coin collecting and have been rather overwhelmed with all the information out there. I was wondering if anyone could help me in identifying this coin. It measures 2.2 cm in diameter. My wife purchased it for my birthday last year and the antique shop said it was Roman. That's all I really have to go on. Any help from this forum would be greatly appreciated, since I don't know where else to turn.
Silver antoninianus of Gordian III, 239-244 AD. Obv legend: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG Obv design: Radiate, draped bust right Rev legend: MARS PROPVG Rev design: Mars advancing right, holding spear and shield. Ref: RIC V 145
Thank you. I would have sorted through the internet for days trying to figure this out. I really appreciate your help. What does this "Ref: RIC V 145" mean?
It refers to the standard reference for Roman Imperial coins. RIC stands for the title, The Roman Imperial Coinage, published in ten volumes between 1923 and 1994. Yours can be found under the 145th entry for Gordian III, in volume 5.
