Hey everyone I was looking at my gordian III coin and looking up more info on it ( i assumed RIC 38) because it looks to be the same but then i noticed the inscription around the boarder is different then the one online. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear/s2459.html thats the one online and mine appears to read IMP GORDIANVSPIVS (approx 5-6 OTHER CHARACTERS) . Does this mean it isn't a RIC 38 of Gordian III or do they sometimes have different inscriptions ?? any help would be great
It isnt the same coin if the front inscription isnt the same (and even with the same breaks)...what is the full obverse and reverse inscription? I assume the reverse is a ROMAE AETERNAE with Roma seated with helmet shield and holding victory? I could be this one: Gordian III AR antoninianus. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate draped bust right / ROMAE AETERNAE, Roma seated left on cuirass, with Victory & scepter. RSC 314 RIC 70 You will notice that on this one Roma's helmet doesnt break the inscription like in your example...again, isnt the same coin if yours doesnt do that.
that looks like it might be it. I have a tough time reading the inscription even with magnification so i've been looking at how the letters i can line up corredspond to the rest of the image. and the one you posted seems alot closer as the G is right by the bottom point in his crown on both my coin and the image provided as do alot of the letters. Also no her helmet doesn't break the inscription up but the shield shes sitting on seems more oval in shape on my coin and more circular in the image you provided. dunno if that has anything to do with the image having to be resized *edit* also just noticed the tital of this thread is misspelled :S
I dont think the shield being sightly more round would change the type as long as all the same devices are there in the same way...portrait points the right way and dressed the right way...inscriptions the same with the same breaks. That kind of thing...Different engravers, different engravings that are slightly different will effect the portrait, look and style. But the devices set the type I think Gordian III coins are undervalued by collectors...I think they have some of the best portrait work...the one below is a great example. It has legend errors but the portrait is so well done. This coin is also an RIC 70 (with error) like the one above, obviously a completely different style.
I was surprised most are so cheap as this one wasn't (prob got ripped on it lol 105 euros) but hey I learned something from it all ,got a coin i really like and I think its set me on a path to collecting gordian III's so can't really complain
