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Ruler: | Gordian I Africanus |
Reigned: | 22 March - 12 April 238 AD |
Denomination: | AE Sestertius |
Mint: | Rome |
Date of Issue: | 1-22 April 238 |
Obverse: | Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. "IMP. CAES. M. ANT. GORDIANVS AFR. AVG." |
Reverse: | Providentia standing facing, head left, with legs crossed, leaning on short column, holding wand over globe in right hand and cornucopia in left. "PROVIDENTIA AVGG. S.C." |
Reference: | RIC IV 9; BMCRE 5; Banti 5; RCVM 8450 |
Weight: | 16.8 gms |
Diameter: | 29.7 mm |
Gordian I (Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus)
The reaction to Maximinus's unpopular taxation when it came was centred not in Rome or Italy but in the wealthy North African province of Africa Proconsularis (roughly equivalent to modern Tunisia), where the fiscal procurator had shown himself particularly zealous on Maximinus's behalf. Popular feeling against the imperial administration ran high, both among peasant farmers and the rich landowners. It was a group of young aristocrats who in January 238 organized this seething resentment into a plan of action. They ordered their tenants and retainers to gather at Thysdrus (modern El Djem) where the procurator was supervising the revenues from the olive harvest. Choosing a suitable moment the young aristocrats went up to the man and killed him. They then approached the governor of the province, who was also in Thysdrus at the time, and obliged him to don the imperial purple. |
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R15710