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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Roman Coins| ▸ |Crisis & Decline| ▸ |Gordian III||View Options:  |  |  |   

Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D.

Gordian III was the grandson of Gordian I and nephew of Gordian II. He was proclaimed Caesar shortly before the murder of Balbinus and Pupienus, and he succeeded them. Little is known about his reign. In 242 A.D. he embarked on a campaign against the Persian Kingdom which was so successful the Persians had to evacuate Mesopotamia. However, Gordian III died shortly after, through illness or the machinations of his Praetorian prefect and successor, Philip I.

Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Deultum, Thrace

|Deultum|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Deultum,| |Thrace||tetrassarion|NEW
On RPC Online and elsewhere, we sometimes find our river god labeled Istrus (Danube) or its Bulgarian tributary, Oiskus (modern Iskar). Both waterways, however, never flowed close to ancient Deultum. As a Roman colony, it was founded under Vespasian near the mouth of the Sredetska (srai-DETS-kah) River (ancient name unknown), which empties into Lake Mandra. The presence of galleys on the city’s coinage suggests the colony was supported by maritime trade and fishing, at a time when the lake was suitably connected to the Black Sea. Coins depicting our river god must therefore refer to a local river, as in Sredetska, the closest to Deultum of several rivers that flow into the lake.

The magnificent Gordian III coin type featuring two river gods and a galley (RPC Online VII-2 823) grants even further certainty in linking Deultum's fortunes to Lake Mandra and beyond, via the Sredetska. The overturned urn of the older, bearded river god flows into a large bowl rather than forming a river, clearly symbolizing a standing body of water. His beardless counterpart grasping the ship's rudder has long been assumed to be Thalassa, the primordial goddess of the sea. However, the figure doesn’t appear very feminine on high grade coins and lacks Thalassa's important crab claw headgear. On RPC Online VI T772, we find probably the same deity reclining left with a flowing urn and holding a reed and the prow of a ship—all very river god like except for the missing beard. In reference to this puzzle in his 1695 work, Numismata Aerea Imperatorum, Vaillant wrote, "Rivers emptying themselves into the sea, are depicted on ancient medals under the figures of old men, with flowing beards, as though they were the fathers of other streams. But the personifications of those rivers which discharge their waters into other rivers, are represented without beards." Perhaps our spurt off the old river may also personify the short, heavily navigated inlet from Lake Mandra to the sea.
RP113331. Bronze tetrassarion, Draganov Deultum 1255–1257 (O113/R638) = SNG Bobokov 1255–1257; Jurukova Deultum 250; RPC Online VII.2 956; BM Acquisitions 1921 p. 159, 33, gVF, dark green patina, good detail, minor pitting, cleaning scratches, rev. off center, small edge splits, central mint dimples, weight 6.434 g, maximum diameter 22.9 mm, die axis 225o, Deultum (Debelt, Bulgaria) mint, c. 241 - 242 A.D.; obverse IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG (AV ligate), laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse COL FL PAC DEVL,T (final letter in exergue), River-god (ancient personification of the Sredetska River) reclining left, holding cornucopia in raised right hand, resting elbow on urn from which water flows; ex CNG e-sale 537 (26 Apr 2023), lot 293; ex Dr. Michael Slavin Collection, ex Herakles Numismatics (Apr 2003); $130.00 (€122.20) ON RESERVE


Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Tomis, Moesia Inferior

|Tomis|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Tomis,| |Moesia| |Inferior||tetrassaria|
Tomis was founded by Greek colonists on the shore of the Black Sea around 600 B.C. for trade with the local Getic population. The Roman poet Ovid was banished by Augustus to Tomis in 8 A.D. and died there eight years later. By his account, Tomis was "a town located in a war-stricken cultural wasteland on the remotest margins of the empire." Constanta Romania today, the city was renamed to honor Constantine the Great.
RP112136. Bronze tetrassaria, AMNG I/II 3423 (same leg. breaks), Varbanov I 5555 (R3), RPC Online VII.2 1735, Sutzu I 671 var. (Δ left), SNG Cop 300 var. (same), VF, well centered, full legends, green patina, porosity, edge crack, central depressions, weight 12.028 g, maximum diameter 25.7 mm, die axis 0o, Tomis (Constanta, Romania) mint, obverse AVT K M ANTΩN ΓOPΔIANOC (OC ligate, Imperator Caesar Marcus Antonius Gordianus), laureate and draped bust right, seen from behind; reverse MHTPO ΠONTOY TOMEΩC, Athena standing slightly left, head left., right hand resting on grounded shield, spear vertical in right hand, Δ (mark of value) right; from Shawn Caza former diplomat, author of A Handbook of Late Roman Coins (Spink, 2021), collection assembled during postings and international travel; ex Dorotheum Vienna; $100.00 (€94.00)
 


|Gordian| |III|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.||antoninianus|
After Apollo insulted him, Eros (cupid) shot Apollo with an arrow that caused him to fall in hopeless love with Daphne, a mortal woman. Eros shot Daphne with an arrow which made her incapable of loving Apollo. Nevertheless Apollo pursued her, and out of desperation Daphne escaped by having herself turned into a laurel. Ever after, winners of the games to honor Apollo wore wreaths of laurel in honor of Apollo's Daphne.
RS113149. Silver antoninianus, RIC IV 89, RSC IV 261, Hunter III 37, SRCV III 8648, Choice VF, well centered, nice portrait, flow lines, mild rev. due wear, weight 5.170 g, maximum diameter 22.6 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 242 - Jul 243 A.D.; obverse IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse P M TR P V COS II P P, Apollo seated left on throne, nude to waist, himation around hips and legs, laurel branch in extended right hand, resting left arm on lyre; ex Numismatik Naumann auction 130 (2 Jul 2023), lot 1309 (part of); $90.00 (€84.60)
 


Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Nikopolis ad Istrum, Moesia Inferior

|Nikopolis|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Nikopolis| |ad| |Istrum,| |Moesia| |Inferior||tetrassarion|
Struck under Sabinus Modestus, legatus Augusti pro praetore at Nikopolis, 241 - 244 A.D.
RP113327. Bronze tetrassarion, H-H-J Nikopolis 8.36.32.1 (R5); RPC Online VII.2 1297; SNG Budapest III 489; AMNG I 2069; Varbanov 4220, aVF, struck on a broad flan, green-brown patina, deposits, minor roughness, flan crack, central depressions, weight 13.375 g, maximum diameter 29.8 mm, die axis 180o, Nicopolis ad Istrum (Nikyup, Bulgaria) mint, 241 - 244 A.D.; obverse AVT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC AVG (VΓ ligate), laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse VΠ CAB MOΔECTOV NIKOΠOΛEITΩN (ΩN ΠP ligate), River-god Istros reclining left, bearded, nude to waist, himation around hips and legs, reed in right hand, resting elbow on urn behind from which water flows, ΠPOC ICTPO/N (ΠP ligate, N in second line) in exergue; ex CNG e-sale 537 (26 Apr 2023), lot 276; ex Dr. Michael Slavin Collection; $90.00 (€84.60)
 


Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Hadrianopolis, Thrace

|Hadrianopolis|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Hadrianopolis,| |Thrace||tetrassarion|NEW
Hadrian refounded a Thracian tribal capital, changed its name to Hadrianopolis, developed it, adorned it with monuments, and made it the capital of the Roman province. The city is Edirne, Turkey today. From ancient times, the area around Edirne has been the site of no fewer than 16 major battles or sieges. Military historian John Keegan identifies it as "the most contested spot on the globe" and attributes this to its geographical location. Licinius was defeated there by Constantine I in 323, and Valens was killed by the Goths during the Battle of Adrianople in 378.
RP113332. Bronze tetrassarion, Jurukova Hadrianopolis 470 (V230/R456); RPC Online VII.2 733; Varbanov II 3837 var. (obv. legend); BMC Thrace p. 121, 36; SNG Hunterian 916, aVF, brown patina, small flan crack, area of weakness, central mint dimples, weight 8.913 g, maximum diameter 26.1 mm, die axis 180o, Hadrianopolis (Edirne, Turkey) mint, 29 Jul 238 - 25 Feb 244 A.D.; obverse AVT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC AVΓ (Imperator Caesar Marcus Antonius Gordianus Augustus, AVΓ ligate), laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse AΔPIANOΠO,ΛEITΩN (ending in exergue, ΩN ligate), river-god Tonzus or Hebros reclining left, reeds in raised right hand, rudder in left hand and crook of left arm, resting left elbow on overturned urn behind from which water flows; ex CNG e-sale 537 (26 Apr 2023), lot 297; From the Dr. Michael Slavin Collection; $90.00 (€84.60)
 


|Gordian| |III|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.||antoninianus|
Gordian III was the grandson of Gordian I and nephew of Gordian II. Made Caesar before the murders of Balbinus and Pupienus, he succeeded them. Little is known of his reign. In 242 A.D. he attacked Persia, gaining Mesopotamia. He died shortly after, through illness or plot of his Praetorian prefect and successor, Philip I.
RS99482. Silver antoninianus, RIC IV 71, RSC IV 388, Hunter III 28, SRCV III 8669, Choice gVF Gordian III Rome 240 AD Mars in Military Garb Holding Olive Branch, weight 3.229 g, maximum diameter 22.2 mm, die axis 0o, Rome mint, Mar - May(?) 240 A.D.; obverse IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse VIRTVS AVG (the valor of the Emperor), Mars standing half left, head left, bearded, helmeted and in military dress, olive branch in right hand, spear in left, shield behind rests against right side; ex Numismatik Naumann auction 130 (2 Jul 2023), lot 1309 (part of); $90.00 (€84.60) ON RESERVE


Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Anchialos, Thrace

|Anchialus|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Anchialos,| |Thrace||AE| |27|
Anchialus (Pomorie, Bulgaria today) was 15 km north of Apollonia on the opposite coast of the Gulf of Burgas. Ovid wrote of the fortified walls of Anchialus in 9 A.D. enroute to Tomis. Anchialos thrived in the 2nd and 3rd centuries serving as the most important import and export station of Thrace and acquired the appearance of a Roman city under the Severan Dynasty.
RP113306. Bronze AE 27, RPC Online VII.2 1166.3; McClean 4429; Tachev Anchialos 302; AMNG II 666.9; SNG Evelpidis 903; Varbanov II 711, F, near full legends, dark brown tone, porosity, central depressions, edge spits, weight 14.383 g, maximum diameter 26.9 mm, die axis 0o, Anchialos (Pomorie, Bulgaria) mint, May 241 - 25 Feb 244 A.D.; obverse AYT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC AVΓ CEB, TPANKYΛ/ΛEINA (her name in two lines below), confronted busts of Gordian on left, laureate, draped, and cuirassed, and Tranquillina on right, draped and wearing stephane; reverse OYΛΠIANΩN AΓXIAΛEΩN, Hygieia standing slightly right, head right, feeding snake in right hand from patera in left hand; $80.00 (€75.20)
 


Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Carrhae, Mesopotamia

|Mesopotamia| |&| |Babylonia|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Carrhae,| |Mesopotamia||AE| |31|
Tyche (Greek for luck; the Roman equivalent was Fortuna) was the presiding tutelary deity that governed the fortune and prosperity of a city, its destiny. Increasingly during the Hellenistic period, cities had their own specific iconic version of Tyche, wearing a mural crown (a crown like the walls of the city).
RP112711. Bronze AE 31, RPC Online VII.2 3445 (3 spec.); BMC Arabia p. 89, 55; SNG Cop 187 var. (crescent above Tyche), aVF, off center, dark tone, porosity, weight 14.920 g, maximum diameter 30.5 mm, die axis 0o, Carrhae (Altinbasak, Turkey) mint, 243 - 244 A.D.; obverse AYTOK K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC CEB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse MHTP KOΛ KAPPHNWN, draped, veiled and turreted bust of Tyche left, before her satyr Marsyas standing right on short column, carrying wineskin over shoulder; first specimen of this type handled by Forum; scarce; $70.00 (€65.80)
 


Gordian III, 29 July 238 - 25 February 244 A.D., Caesarea, Cappadocia

|Cappadocia|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.,| |Caesarea,| |Cappadocia||AE| |23|
Kayseri, originally called Mazaka or Mazaca, is in central Turkey on a low spur on the north side of Mount Erciyes (Mount Argaeus in ancient times). During Achaemenid Persian rule, it was the capital of a Satrapy on the crossroads of the Royal Road from Sardis to Susa and the trade route from Sinope to the Euphrates. It was conquered by Alexander's general Perdikkas, was ruled by Eumenes of Cardia, then passed to the Seleucid empire after the battle of Ipsus. It became the capital of the independent Cappadocian Kingdom under Ariarathes III, around 250 B.C. During Strabo's time it was also known as Eusebia, after the Cappadocian King Ariarathes V Eusebes, 163 – 130 B.C. The name was changed again to "Caesarea in Cappadocia" in honor of Caesar Augustus, upon his death in 14 A.D. The city passed under formal Roman rule in 17 A.D. In Roman times, it prospered on the route from Ephesus to the East. Caesarea was destroyed by the Sassanid King Shapur I after his victory over the Emperor Valerian I in 260 A.D. At the time it was recorded to have around 400,000 inhabitants. Arabic influence changed Caesarea to the modern name Kayseri. The city gradually recovered and has a population of almost 1 million people today. Few traces of the ancient city survive.
RP112704. Bronze AE 23, RPC Online VII.2 3398; Henseler 907p; SNG Leypold 2812; SNG Hunterian 2285; Bland Caesarea 193; Sydenham Caesarea 616; BMC Galatia p. 93, 347, gF, green patina, light earthen deposits, slightly off center, weight 5.909 g, maximum diameter 23.3 mm, die axis 180o, Cappadocia, Caesarea (Kayseri, Turkey) mint, 243 - 244 A.D.; obverse AV KAI M ANT ΓOPΔIANO CE, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse MHTP KAI B NE, six stalks of grain bound together, ET - Z (year 7) across lower field; $50.00 (€47.00)
 


|Gordian| |III|, |Gordian| |III,| |29| |July| |238| |-| |25| |February| |244| |A.D.||aureus|
Providentia is the personification of the ability to foresee and to make provision for the future. This ability was considered essential for the emperor and providentia was among the embodiments of virtues that were part of the imperial cult. Cicero said that providentia, memoria (memory) and intellegentia (understanding) are the three main components of prudentia, the knowledge what is good or bad or neither.
SH97606. Gold aureus, RIC IV 23 (R), Calicó 3213, Cohen IV 195, SRCV III 8579, Hunter - (p. lxxxiii), gVF, well centered and struck, flow lines, bumps, light scrape on obverse, weight 4.732 g, maximum diameter 21.2 mm, die axis 0o, 5th officina, Rome mint, special emission, early 239 A.D.; obverse IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; reverse P M TR P II COS P P (high priest, holder of Tribunitian power for two years, consul, father of the country), Providentia standing left, globe in right hand, transverse scepter in left; ex FORVM (2020); scarce; SOLD




  



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OBVERSE LEGENDS

IMPCMANTGORDIANVSAVG
IMPCAESGORDIANVSPIVSAVG
IMPCAESMANTGORDIANVSAVG
IMPCAESMANTGORDIANVSPIVSAVG
IMPGORDIANVSPIVSFELAVG
IMPGORDIANVSPIVSFELIXAVG
MANTGORDIANVSCAES


REFERENCES

Banti, A. & L. Simonetti. Corpus Nummorum Romanorum. (Florence, 1972-1979).
Cohen, H. Description historique des monnaies frappées sous l'Empire Romain, Vol. 5: Gordian I to Valerian II. (Paris, 1885).
Mattingly, H., E. Sydenham & C. Sutherland. The Roman Imperial Coinage, Vol IV: From Pertinax to Uranius Antoninus. (London, 1986).
Michaux, B. Le monnayage impérial de Gordien III (238-244 après J.C.). (Bruxelles, 2020).
Robinson, A. Roman Imperial Coins in the Hunter Coin Cabinet, University of Glasgow, Vol. III: Pertinax to Aemilian. (Oxford, 1977).
Seaby, H. & D. Sear. Roman Silver Coins, Volume IV, Gordian III to Postumus. (London, 1982).
Sear, D. Roman Coins and Their Values III, The Accession of Maximinus I to the Death of Carinus AD 235 - AD 285. (London, 2005).
Vagi, D. Coinage and History of the Roman Empire. (Sidney, 1999).

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