Gordian III
Rome 238-244 CE
AR Antoninianus 23mm, 3,85g
Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: AETERNITATI AVG, Sol standing left, holding globe and raising hand.
RIC IV-83; RSC-41.
Gordian III
Rome 238-244 CE
AR Antoninianus 23mm, 4,76g
Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG.
Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: VIRTVTI AVGVSTI. The Farnese Hercules: statue of Hercules right, with Apples of the Hesperides and lion skin, and leaning upon club
Nikopolis ad Istrum, Moesia Inferior
Magistrate Modestus
Gordian III, 238-244 CE
Æ 26.00mm, 12.93g
AYT K M ANTΩ ΓOΡΔIANOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III to right.
Rev. YP CAB MOΔECTOY NIKOΠOΛEITΩN ΠΡOC ICTPON around and downwards in left field, Hygieia standing right, holding patera, feeding serpent in arms.
Varbanov 4207; AMNG 2063; Moushmov 1519
Moesia Superior, Viminacium
Gordian III
Dated civic year 2 = 240/1 CE
Æ 29mm, 16,44g
IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III to right, seen from rear
Rev. P M S COL VIM AN II, Moesia standing left; at left, bull standing right; at right, lion standing left
AMNG 76; RPC VII.2, 8
Marcianopolis, Moesia Inferior
Gordian III 238-244 CE
Ae Pentassarion 27mm, 10.9g
Obv: AVT K M ANT GORDIANOC AVG; Confronted busts of Gordian and Serapis
Rev: VP MHNOFILOV MARKIANOPOLEI-T-W-N (last three letters in left field); Apollo standng with right hand on head and holding bow; to left quiver, to right serpent coiled about tree trunk; E in left field
Varbanov 1948
Mesopotamia, Singara
Gordian III (238-244 CE)
AE 25.02mm 11.39g
Obverse: AVTOK K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC [CЄB], laureate and draped bust of Gordian right
Reverse: [AVP CЄΠ] KOΛ CINΓAPA, turreted veiled and draped bust of Tyche right, the centaur Sagittarius leaping right and shooting bow above
SNG Copenhagen 255
Ex Ed Flinn Collection
Edessa, Mesopotamia
Gordian III (238 – 244 CE)
Ae 28.0mm, 15.0g
Obv: AVTOK K M ANT ΓORΔIANOC CEB; Laureate bust right
Rev: MHT KOΛ EΔECCHNωN; Turreted and veiled bust of Tyche left; to left, small altar and Aquarius standing right on pedestal
BMC 128 – 130
Phrygia, Lysias
Gordian III. 238-244 CE
AE 24mm 6.00g
Obv: AVT K M ΓOPΔIANOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: ΛYCIAΔЄΩN, Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopia
RPC VII 724; SNG Copenhagen 619; BMC 10-1
January 20
Birth of Gordian III.
Gordian III’s uncle and grandfather, Gordian I and Gordian II, are declared joint emperors in Africa.
Gordian III dissolves the 3rd Augustan legion, based in Leptis Magna
May
After the deaths of Gordian I and II, Gordian III is proclaimed Caesar at the age of 13 by the Senate under co-emperors Pupienus and Balbinus.
July 29
Pupienus and Balbinus are murdered by the Praetorian Guard. Gordian III, at 13, is declared sole emperor by the Senate.
Gordian III faces the rebellion of Sabinianus in Africa but successfully suppresses it.
Gordian III marries Tranquillina.
Gordian III launches a military campaign against the Sasanian Empire in the East to reclaim Roman territories. He gains support from his father-in-law, Timesitheus, who serves as his Praetorian Prefect.
Gordian III wins a significant victory at the Battle of Resaena against the Sasanians.
Philip I becomes Praetorian prefect under Gordian III.
February
Gordian III dies under unclear circumstances, either in battle against the Sasanians or assassinated by mutinous troops. His death occurs near the city of Zaitha (modern Iraq), and Philip the Arab succeeds him as emperor and Otacilia Severa becomes Empress.