Gordian III               238 - 244 A.D.

 

When the revolt of Gordian I & II in Northern Africa failed the Senate appointed Pupienus and Balbinus as joint emperors. However, this choice proved to be so unpopular that the Senate sought and found the grandson of Gordian I and named him Caesar so as to give an air of a dynastic lineage. Balbinus and Pupienus were murdered soon after leaving the teenage Gordian I as sole emperor. Gordian III then spent the next several years in relative obscurity participating in various wars. He was killed by agents of his Praetorian Prefect, Philip, who had ambitions to become emperor himself.

 

AR Denarius 238--244 A.D.

3.07 g., 20 mm. ca. 240--244 A.D.

Obv. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right

Rev. DIANA LVCIFERA: Diana standing right, holding torch

C. 69, Van Meter 67

AR Denarius 238--244 A.D.

20 mm. ca. 240--244 A.D.

Obv. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG: Laureate and draped bust right

Rev. LAETITIA AVG N: Laetitia standing left, holding wreath and scepter

C. 120, Van Meter 69

AR Antoninianus 240--244 A.D.

3.9 g., 20 mm.

Obv. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG: Radiate, draped bust right

Rev. VICTOR AETER: Victory standing left, leaning on a shield below which is seated a captive and bearing a palm

C. 348, Van Meter 53

AR Denarius 238--244 A.D.

2.25 g., 20 mm.

Obv. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG: Laureate, draped bust right

Rev. SECVRITAS PVBLICA: Securitas seated left

C. 304, Van Meter 75

AR Antoninianus 240--244 A.D.

5.2 g., 21 mm.

Obv. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG: Radiate and draped bust right

Rev. VIRTVTI AVGVSTI: Hercules standing right, leaning on a club which rests on a rock

C. 404, Van Meter 64

AE Sestertius 240--244 A.D.

31 mm.

Obv. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG: Laureate, draped bust right

Rev. AETERNITATI AVG S C: Sol standing left, holding globe

C. 43, Van Meter 81

AE Sestertius 240--244 A.D.

28 mm.

Obv. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG: Laureate, draped bust right

Rev. PAX AETERNA S C: Pax walking left

RIC 332a, C. 169, Van Meter 93

Roman Imperial Gordian III

AR Denarius 238-244 A.D.

19 mm.

Obv. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG

Laureate and draped bust right

Rev. VENVS VICTRIX

Venus standing left, leaning on shield, holding helmet and scepter

C. 347, Van Meter 76

Roman Imperial Gordian III

AR Antoninianus 238-244 A.D.

22 mm.

Obv. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG

Radiate, draped bust right

Rev. SECVRITAS PERPETVA

Securitas standing left with scepter, leaning on column

Van Meter 51, C. 336, RIC 153