Gordian III, Silver Antoninianus

1048.jpg

Dublin Core

Title

Gordian III, Silver Antoninianus

Subject

Gordian III, Silver Antoninianus, 238-239 CE.
OBVERSE: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG (Imperator Caesar Marcus Antoninus Gordianus Augustus), Radiate bust right.
REVERSE: VIRTVS AVG (Virtue of Augustus), Virtus standing facing in military dress, head left, with shield and spear.

Description

Most of Gordian’s reign was spent in the East campaigning against the Persians. He married the daughter of his Praetorian Praefect, Furia Sabina Tranquillina, which by this time was a prudent political move. The Praefect, Timestheus, though very loyal, either died or was murdered in 243 CE, and his replacement, Philip the Arab, was not so loyal. Gordian was murdered by the arrangement of Philip in February of 244 CE.
Virtue was often featured on Roman coins. It was a common staple of the rhetoric used by emperors to emphasize their own virtue and their dedication to the people of Rome.

Source

Gift of James and Aneta McIntyre, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem, OR. 2006.010.048

Date

238-239 CE

Rights

Hallie Ford Museum of Arts

Format

0.893 in
0.165 oz

Language

Latin

Type

Coin

Coverage

This item is on view at Hallie Ford Museum of Art, in the Mark and Janeth Sponenburgh Gallery.

Citation

“Gordian III, Silver Antoninianus,” Hallie Ford Museum of Art Exhibits, accessed November 23, 2024, https://library.willamette.edu/hfma/omeka/items/show/99.