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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;johnmilton, post: 25388378, member: 101855&quot;]Here are the two &quot;impossible emperors,&quot; Gordian I and II. The text is from my Roman emperor notebook. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1625738[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Denarius of Gordian I Africanus</b>, Obverse: IMP M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG “Emperor Marcus Antonius Gordianus Africanus Augustus” Reverse: ROMAE AETERNAE “To Everlasting Rome” Roma seated on an shield holding victory and sceptre. Sear 8447</p><p><br /></p><p>Nearly age 80 at the time that he became emperor, Gordian Africanus I, had had a long and distinguished career in service to the Roman government. He had been the Governor of Lower Britain during the rule of Caracalla.</p><p><br /></p><p>When imperial agents from Maximinus threatened to extort wealth from the provincial nobility, they drafted Gordian to be emperor. Gordian was reluctant to accept the responsibility, but he consented to take the office and appointed his son to be co-emperor. He entered the provincial capital, Carthage to assume his responsibilities. Both emperors added the “Africanus” to their names.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1625739[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Denarius of Gordian II Africanus, </b>Obverse: IMP M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG “Emperor Marcus Antonius Gordianus Africanus Augustus” Reverse: PROVIDENTIA AVGG “Dedicated to the foresight of the two emperors.” Providence standing, legs crossed, leaning on a column, holding a rod and cornucopia with a globe at her feet. Sear 8465</p><p><br /></p><p>Like his father, Gordian II had considerable administrative experience. A learned man of culture, it was said that he possessed a library that contained 62,000 volumes. He was also said to be addicted to pleasure. It was reported that he had numerous mistresses.</p><p><br /></p><p>Gordian I and his son, Gordian II, declared themselves to be co-emperors in an effort to depose Maximinus. They added “Africanus” to their names upon becoming emperors.</p><p><br /></p><p>They were located in Carthage while Maximinus was in Europe. Lacking an army, they were opposed by Capellianus, the governor of Numidia, who was Maximinus supporter. Gordian II raised a rag-tag army of amateurs to go up against the army of Capellianus who were professionally trained soldiers. The results were predictable. Gordian II’s army was badly defeated, and he was killed on the battlefield. Upon hearing of the death of his son, Gordian I committed suicide. They had held office for only 21 days.</p><p><br /></p><p>We can only speculate as to why the Gordian I and II coins were struck. All of them were made in Rome. The preparation for the dies must have begun as soon as word reached the senate that there was an uprising in the African colonies. Dies were made for the coins, and they were struck, perhaps even after word had reached Rome that the Gordians were dead. Perhaps the coins were struck while the dies for the Balbinus and Pupienus coins were in the preparation stage. Given their short reign, all of the coins of Gordian I and Gordian II are scarce and expensive.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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