Some of Gordian's coins are more square / rectangular in shape, like this one. Do you guys know if there was a reason for this shape? I asked the same question on the "Roman Provincial Coin Cities-- How many can we cover?" thread about an Augustus coin from Osset - also a square / rectangular coin. But got no answer :-( This is the Gordian III coin: Sestertius, Rome, 240 243 AD RIC IV 300 - 300a; Sear 8782; Cohen 123; 29 mm; 22.36 g Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right Reverse: LAETITIA AVG N Laetitia standing left, holding wreath and anchor; S - C at the bottom Was there a reason for this shape ?
Squarish flans were common in the mid-third-century. Here are a few of mine: Philip II Otacilia Severa Trajan Decius Herennia Etruscilla
Thanks Roman Collector, interesting so it was maybe just fashionable, not wear and tear or easier to struck squares ?
I have a slightly squared off Gordian: But my squarest is definitely this Gallienus: I always imagined they were cutting the flans from bars, like slicing bread, and that it was easier to make and cut squared-off bars.
Oh yes, the Antonine dynasty had its share of squarish flans: Sestertius of Lucilla, IVNONI LVCINAE Middle bronze of Crispina, IVNONI LVCINAE Sestertii of Crispina, SALVS (different obverse legends).
How'd I forget this one? You started off the thread with a bronze of Gordian III, too! I had forgotten about this example until I posted it in @Bing 's Gordy thread.
Can I ditto dat? actually, my only Gordian: RI Gordian III 238-244 CE AE As 25mm Hercules S-C But, I am going to have to get one of them-thar "Square"-flans!
I found 2 relevant coins of Gordian III and Berenike. But the nearly perfect square in my possession belongs to James II De Lusignan of Cyprus- 1463 AD.
and yet another Gallienus: Sestertius, Orichalcum(?) 25 mm, 13.78 g; Rome, 254 AD, 1st emission, struck under the authority of Valerian and Gallienus Obverse: [IMP C P ] LIC GALLIENVS AVG, Laureate and cuirassed bust right Reverse: [VIRTVS] AVG[G], Soldier, helmeted, in military attire, standing left, holding spear in right hand and leaning on shield with left hand, S - C across field Reference: RIC V Gallienus (joint reign) 248; Sear 10495; The system of Aes coinages first introduced and regularized by Augustus effectively came to an end during Gallienus’ reign. Sestertii, dupondii and Asses were issued in some quantity at first, however, during the end of the joint reign with the Antoninianus reduced to little more than a bronze coin, the production of Aes must have become less profitable and output declined accordingly. By 258 AD the issue of Aes had effectively ceased; however, very small numbers were struck in the early years of the sole reign. Most sestertii exhibit squared and uneven edges. Gallienus invariably appears laureate on sestertii and asses, and radiate on dupondii.
