For some reason the Gordian lll coins have an appeal to me. I picked up this tetradrachm from Vcoins.
Nice addition. Gordian III (238 - 244 A.D.) AR Tetradrachm Syria, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch O: AVTOK K M ANT GORDIANOC CEB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right R: DHMAPX EX UPATO B, eagle standing facing, head left with wreath in beak, below, crescent & ram running right. Antioch Mint, Struck 242 A.D. 27mm 13.5g Prieur 302
Good pick up for your collection. Gordian III coins do have an appeal and are easily available in different denominations. I picked up one in AR antoninianus denomination a while back.
Thanks. This one has been sitting in my cart for a bit, but I decided to pull the trigger. It was my birthday so that was a good reason. LOL
Gordian III is a nice one to collect because there are many interesting types, often very affordable while being very attractive. Here are two of my favorites. One Imperial and one Provincial. (Maybe I'll post more G.III favorites if the thread keeps going...) My best patina on any coin is this Sestertius, part of my "captives" collection (under Victory's shield), ex George His Collection (who had probably the most important private collection of Gordian III in recent generations), then A. Lang (Leu 12, 1386): I wasn't satisfied with any single photo's ability to capture the dark, glossy patina, so I made a strip of images: My favorite Provincial Gordian III is this Alexandrian Tetradrachm ex Dattari Collection. I love the similarity between the Helios and Gordian's portraits. If you remove the spikey hat and their hair, you would think it's the same person (possibly the point): Dattari's pencil rubbings of this coin, made some time c. 1901:
I think nearly every ancient coin collector begins their collection with Gordian III or Philip I. I'm always looking for "special" Gordian coins. Here are a few of my favorites: Province / City / Reign: Cappadocia, Caesarea - Gordian III Metal / Denomination: AR Drachm Size: 17.0mm x 17.0mm Weight: 2.52g Issue: Year 4 (Δ) = 241 AD Obverse: Laureate head right, AY KAI M ANT ΓOΡΔIANO CE Reverse: Mount Argaeus, MHTΡO KAICA B N Ex: ETΔ Reference: Ganschow 875b; Bland 1991a —; RPC Online VII.2, 3283 Province / City / Reign: Cappadocia, Caesarea - Gordian III Metal / Denomination: AR Drachm Size: 17.5mm x 20.8mm Weight: 3.52g Issue: Year 5 (E) = 242 AD Obverse: Laureate head right, AY K M ANT ΓOΡΔIANO C (slight double strike) Reverse: Mount Argaeus, pellet to right, MHTΡO KAI B N E Ex: ETE Reference: Ganschow 898a–c; Bland 1991a, 67; RPC Online VII.2, 3375 Reign: Gordian III Mint: Antioch Metal / Denomination: AR Antoninianus Size: 21.3 mm x 21.8 mm Weight: 3.78 g Issue: 239 AD Obverse: Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right; IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG Reverse: (Double struck error) Providentia standing left, holding globe and scepter; (P M) TR P (over strike) - (P M TR P) II COS PP (under strike) Reference: RIC IV, Part iii, 172 (b) Reign: Gordian III Mint: Rome Metal / Denomination: AE Sestertius Size: 30.0 mm x 32.5 mm Weight: 16.7 g Issue: 241 - 244 AD Obverse: Bust of Gordian III, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right; IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG Reverse: Libertas, draped, standing left, holding pileus in extended right hand and sceptre in left hand; LIBERTAS AVG Field: S C Reference: RIC IV, Part iii, 318 (a)
