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01. Gordian III as Caesar / RIC 1.Denarius, April - July 238 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: M ANT GORDIANVS CAES / Bust of Gordian.
Reverse: PIETAS AVGG / Sacrificial implements: lituus, knife, vase, simpulum, and sprinkler.
2.64 gm., 19.5 mm.
RIC #1 (Balbinus & Pupienus); Sear #8557.Callimachus
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02. Gordian III / RIC 81.Denarius, 240 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Laureate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: P M TR P III COS P P / Gordian on horseback.
2.76 gm., 19 mm.
RIC #81; Sear #8678.Callimachus
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03. Gordian III / RIC 127.Denarius, 240 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Laureate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: DIANA LVCIFERA / Diana standing, holding lighted torch.
2.70 gm., 19 mm.
RIC #127; Sear #8673.Callimachus
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04. Gordian III / RIC 129.Denarius, 240 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Laureate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: PIETAS AVGVSTI / Pietas standing, veiled, and raising both hands.
2.80 gm., 19 mm.
RIC #129; Sear #8677.Callimachus
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05. Gordian III-RIC / 129A.Denarius, 240 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Laureate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: SALVS AVGVSTI / Salus standing, feeding snake held in her arms.
2.68 gm., 19 mm.
RIC # 129A; Sear # 8681.Callimachus
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06. Gordian III / RIC 130.Denarius, 240 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Laureate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: SECVRITAS PVBLICA / Securitas seated, propping head on left hand and holding sceptre.
3.40 gm., 19 mm.
RIC #130; Sear #8682.Callimachus
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07. Gordian III / RIC 131.Denarius, 240 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Laureate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: VENVS VICTRIX / Venus standing, holding helmet and sceptre, leaning on shield.
3.12 gm., 19 mm.
RIC #131; Sear #8683.Callimachus
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08. Gordian III / RIC 115.Denarius, 240 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Laureate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: P M TR P III COS II P P / Gordian in military dress, holding a transverse spear and globe.
3.16gm., 21 mm.
RIC #115; Sear #8680.Callimachus
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09. Gordian III / RIC 114.Denarius, 240 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Laureate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: P M TR P III COS II P P / Apollo seated, resting left arm on lyre, and holding a laurel branch.
3.07 gm., 20 mm.
RIC #114; Sear #8679.Callimachus
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10. Gordian III / RIC 111.Denarius, 240 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Laureate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: AETERNITATI AVG / Sol standing, raising right hand and holding globe.
3.39 gm., 19 mm.
RIC #111; Sear #8672.Callimachus
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11. Gordian III / RIC 112.Denarius, 240 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Laureate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: IOVIS STATOR / Jupiter standing, holding sceptre and thunderbolt.
2.85 gm., 20 mm.
RIC #112; Sear # 8674.Callimachus
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12. Gordian III / RIC 113.Denarius, 240 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Laureate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: LAETITIA AVG N / Laetitia standing, holding wreath and anchor.
2.14 gm., 20 mm.
RIC #113; Sear #8675.Callimachus
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13. Gordian III / RIC 116.Denarius, 240 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Laureate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: VIRTVTI AVGVSTI / Hercules standing, resting right hand on hip and left hand club set on rock; lion-skin beside club.
3.58 gm., 20 mm.
RIC #116; Sear #8684.
The chronology of the denarii coinage of Gordian III has been poorly understood because Roman Imperial Coinage (RIC) has it mixed up in its listings. For example, it will tell you that 5 denarii (Diana, Pietas, Salus, Securitas, and Venus) were issued in the summer of 241 to commemorate the marriage of Gordian and Tranquillina. Recent thinking tells another entirely different story. The following summary is based on a posting by Curtis Clay, November 25, 2011, on the Forum Ancient Coins Classical Numismatics Discussion Board.
Although antoniniani were issued for a while under Caracalla and Elagabalus, the denarius was the standard silver denomination throughout the reigns of Severus Alexander, Maximinus Thrax, and into the first part of the joint reign of Balbinus & Pupienus. (This, by the way, is when the PIETAS AVGG denarius of Gordian as Caesar was issued.) Sometime during the short reign of Balbinus & Pupienus, the antoninianus supplanted the denarius as the standard silver denomination. When Gordian III became emperor (July 238), his administration continued to follow the then current practice of issuing only antoniniani.
Early in 240, Gordian apparently decided to revert back to the traditional coinage of the Empire and began to issue only denarii. The denarii issued at this time were the following:
P M TR P III COS P P / Horseman
DIANA LVCIFERA
PIETAS AVGVSTI
SALVS AVGVSTI
SECVRITAS PVBLICA
VENVS VICTRIX
No antoniniani exist with these reverse types.
The next issue of denarii was issued in the summer of 240 after Gordian became COS II, and consists of these types:
P M TR P III COS II P P / Emperor standing
P M TR P III COS II P P / Apollo seated
AETERNITATI AVG
IOVIS STATOR
LAETITIA AVG N
VIRTVTI AVGVSTI
Within a short time, however, it was decided to go back to having the antoninianus as the standard silver denomination. Antoniniani were issued again, at first with the same reverse types as the second issue of denarii. That is why these reverse types exist on denarii and antoniniani even though they were not issued at the same time.
So the period the mint issued denarii rather than antoniniani as the standard silver denomination lasted from about March through August, 240. This was the last time denarii were issued for general circulation. The antoninianus lasted until Diocletian’s coinage reform of 295, after which Roman coinage was so vastly different that there was no question of returning to the denarius.
The 13 denarii of Gordian III are presented in this album in this order:
Gordian III as Caesar denarius - 1 coin.
First issue of denarii - 6 coins.
Second issue of denarii - 6 coins.Callimachus
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15. Gordian III / RIC 1, first issue.Antoninianus, 238 - 239 AD (year 1), Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: FIDES MILITVM / Fides standing, holding standard and sceptre.
4.89 gm., 21 mm.
RIC #1; Sear #8609.Callimachus
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16. Gordian III / RIC 2, first issue.Antoninianus, 238 - 239 AD (year 1), Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: IOVI CONSERVATORI / Jupiter standing, holding thunderbolt and sceptre; Small figure of Gordian at left.
4.35 gm., 21.5 mm.
RIC #2; Sear #8614.Callimachus
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16.2. Gordian III / RIC 2, first issue.Antoninianus, 238 - 239 AD (year 1), Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: IOVI CONSERVATORI / Jupiter standing, holding thunderbolt and sceptre; Small figure of Gordian at left.
4.20 gm., 21 mm.
RIC #2; Sear #8614. Callimachus
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17. Gordian III / RIC 3, first issue.Antoninianus, 238 - 239 AD (year 1), Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: PAX AVGVSTI / Pax standing, holding branch and sceptre.
4.71 gm., 23 mm.
RIC #3; Sear #8627.Callimachus
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18. Gordian III / RIC 4, first issue.Antoninianus, 238 - 239 AD (year 1), Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: PROVIDENTIA AVG / Providentia standing, holding globe and sceptre.
3.11 gm., 22 mm.
RIC #4; Sear #8655.Callimachus
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19. Gordian III / RIC 5, first issue.Antoninianus, 238 - 239 AD (year 1), Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: VICTORIA AVG / Victory walking, holding wreath and palm branch.
4.07 gm., 21.5 mm.
RIC #5; Sear #8664.Callimachus
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20. Gordian III / RIC 258a, first issue, sestertius.Sestertius, 238-239 AD (year 1), Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG / Laureate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: VICTORIA AVG SC / Victory walking, holding wreath and palm branch.
18.92 gm., 30 mm.
RIC #258a; Sear #8742.Callimachus
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21. Gordian III / RIC 6, first issue.Antoninianus, 238 - 239 AD (year 1), Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: VIRTVS AVG / Virtus standing, resting right hand on shield set on the ground, and holding spear in left hand.
3.97 gm., 21 mm.
RIC #6; Sear #8668.Callimachus
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25. Gordian III / RIC 37, year II.Antoninianus, July 239 - July 240 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: P M TR P II COS P P / Gordian, togate and veiled, sacrificing out of patera over lighted altar.
3.72 gm., 22 mm.
RIC #37; Sear #8637.Callimachus
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28. Gordian III / RIC 91, year III.Antoninianus, July 240 - July 241 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: P M TR P III COS II P P / Gordian in military dress, holding globe and transverse spear.
4.77 gm., 23 mm.
RIC #91; Sear #8644.Callimachus
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31. Gordian III / RIC 92, year IIII.Antoninianus, July 241 - July 242 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: P M TR P IIII COS II P P / Gordian in military dress, holding globe and transverse spear.
4.55 gm., 22 mm.
RIC #92; Sear #8646.
Callimachus
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34. Gordian III / RIC 306a, year IIII, sestertius.Sestertius, 241-242 AD (year 4), Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Laureate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: P M TR P IIII COS II P P SC / Gordian in military dress, holding a transverse spear and globe.
17.79gm., 30 mm.
RIC #306a; Sear #8731.Callimachus
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37. Gordian III / RIC 89, year V.Antoninianus, July 242 - July 243 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: P M TR P V COS II P P / Apollo seated, holding branch and resting elbow on lyre.
4.38 gm., 23 mm.
RIC #89; Sear #8648.Callimachus
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40. Gordian III / RIC 90, year VI.Antoninianus, July 243 - July 244 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: P M TR P VI COS II P P / Apollo seated, holding branch and resting elbow on lyre.
4.56 gm., 22 mm.
RIC #90; Sear #8651.Callimachus
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43. Gordian III / RIC 167A, year VII.Antoninianus, 244 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: P M TR P VII COS II P P / Mars advancing, holding spear and shield.
4.87 gm., 23 mm.
RIC #167A; Sear #8653.
Coins of Gordian dated to the seventh year (TR P VII) exist even though he died several months before starting his seventh year. The death of Gordian is generally thought to have been in early 244, perhaps in February, and his seventh year would have started on July 29, 244. The likely explanation for these coins is that the mint had just started to make them so they could be ready for circulation at the proper time. However, when the news of Gordian's death reached Rome, the few coins that had already been minted were just put into circulation rather than being restruck for the new emperor. This would also account for their rarity today.Callimachus
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50. Gordian III / RIC 35.Antoninianus, Jan. - Mar. 240, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: CONCORDIA AVG / Concordia seated, holding patera and double cornucopiae.
4.83 gm., 22 mm.
RIC #35; Sear #8604.Callimachus
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53. Gordian III / RIC 36.Antoninianus, Jan. - Mar. 240, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: LIBERALITAS AVG II / Liberalitas standing, holding abacus and double cornucopiae.
5.20 gm., 23 mm.
RIC #36; Sear #8619.Callimachus
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56. Gordian III / RIC 39.Antoninianus, Jan. - Mar. 240, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: VIRTVS AVG / Virtus standing, holding branch and spear; shield rests against his foot.
4.51 gm., 21 mm.
RIC #39.Callimachus
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56. Gordian III / RIC 39, detail.A close-up of Virtus from the reverse side of the previous coin.
After you click on the small thumbnail picture, click on the larger picture to get a much larger photo, 616 X 921 pixels.Callimachus
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59. Gordian III / RIC 67.Antoninianus, 240 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: LIBERALITAS AVG III / Liberalitas standing, holding abacus and cornucopiae.
4.58 gm., 21 mm.
RIC #67; Sear #8621.Callimachus
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62. Gordian III / RIC 83.Antoninianus, 241 - 243 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: AETERNITATI AVG / Sold standing, raising right hand and holding a globe in his left hand.
4.04 gm., 21 mm.
RIC #83; Sear #8603.Callimachus
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65. Gordian III / RIC 86.Antoninianus, 241 - 243 AD, Rome mint.
Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / Radiate bust of Gordian.
Reverse: LAETITIA AVG N / Laetitia standing, holding wreath and anchor.
4.46 gm., 23 mm.
RIC #86; Sear #8617.Callimachus
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