gordian

Marcus Antonius Gordianus, Gordian III CommonName: Gordian III
FullName: Marcus Antonius Gordianus, Gordian III
Reign: 238-244 AD
Title: Emperor
Born: 225 AD
Died: 244 AD
Relationship: Grandson of Gordian I
Marcus Antonius Gordianus, grandson of the first Gordian and nephew of the second, was thirteen when he was made Caesar by the Senate as junior colleague with Balbinus and Pupienus. When they were assassinated in July 238 the soldiers elevated Gordian III.
Another youth, resembling Severus Alexander in many ways, his regime had to confront a renewal of the Germanic menace. Taking advantage of the absence of the Roman frontier army in the recent civil wars the Goths had invaded Lower Moesia, while the Carpi had invaded farther west. Some indication of the reorganization which took place once the invaders had been bought off or defeated can be seen from the coins of Viminacium, where the local era, displayed prominently, began in 239.
In 241 Gordian acquired three things: first, an unusually loyal and competent praetorian prefect, Gaius Furius Sabinus Aquila Timistheus, who had risen through the ranks; second, a wife in the form of this prefect's daughter, and third, a war with the greatest of Sasanian kings, Shapur I. Fortunately for Gordian, Timistheus was up to the task.
Shapur regarded Roman Asia as a bit of unfinished business from the reign of his predecessor, and decided to conquer it. The Roman army had to delay its response, since yet another Germanic invasion tied it down along the Danube, but in 243 the counter-offensive began. The Roman army first relieved Antioch, then occupied those parts of Mesopotamia which had been lost in the 230s, then decisively defeated the retreating Persians at Rhesaena. Only one thing stopped the Roman army from taking the Persian capitol, Ctesiphon: the death of Timistheus. He was succeeded by Philip, who had fewer scruples and greater ambition than Timistheus. Accordingly Gordian died early in 244; presumably with help from Philip.
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Gordian III, Billon tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria, Year 4=240/1 AD, 11.63g, Emmett-3429, Rx:: Tyche stg. l., F

Gordian III AE26 of Hadrianopolis, Thrace. 238 - 244 A.D. AVT K M ANT GORDIANOC AY, laureate head right / ADR IA NO POLEITWN, Dionysos riding right on panther. Excellent smooth dark green patina
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Gordian III, as Caesar. 238 AD. Æ Sestertius (19.09 gm). Bare-headed and draped bust right, seen from behind / Lituus, knife, patera, jug, simpulum and sprinkler. RIC IV 3; Cohen 183. Fine, brown patina. Rare!
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Gordian III Antoninianus. obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped & cuirassed bust right rev: PM TR P IIII COS II PP, Gordian in military dress, standing right with spear & globe. RSC 253, Sear2453.
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GORDIAN III. 238-244 AD. AR Antoninianus Struck 243-244AD. IMP. GORDIANVS PIVS FEL. AVG. Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / FORT. REDVX Fortuna seated left, holding rudder and cornucopiae; wheel below seat. RIC IV 143; RSC 97.
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Roman Empire. Gordian III. 238 - 244 AD. Silver Antoninianus. Rome mint.22mm. Obverse: IMP. GORDIANVS PIVS FEL. AVG., his radiate, draped and cuirased bust rt. Reverse: FORTVNA REDVX, Fortuna seated lt., holding a rudder and a cornucopiae. RIC 210, from Antioch.
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Moesia Dionysopolis,Gordian III. 238-244 AD. Æ 26mm Pentassarion (5 Assaria)(11.87 gm) of Anchialus in Thrace, under Legate Menophilus;Vis à vis busts of Gordian III and Serapis / Rev: Pallas (Athena) standing left, E to left. BMC.84var, not in Copenhagen, Nice Fine with even brown tone.
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Gordian III. 238-244 AD. Æ Sestertius (21.32 gm). IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / AETERNITATI AVG, S-C across field, Sol standing half-left, holding globe and raising right hand. RIC IV 297a.1; Hunter 123; Cohen 43.
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GORDIAN III A.D. 238-244: AR antoninianus.Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG.Rev: AEQVITAS AVG. Equity standing left.Ref: S 2427var. C 25.
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Gordian III s2457
Obverse: IMP. GORDIANVS PIVS FEL. AVG., his
radiate, draped and cuirassed bust rt. Reverse: PROVID. AVG.,
Providence standing lt., holding a baton above a globe and a scepter. VF
with a nice portrait of this young ruler, who was deposed, most likely
brought above by the future emperor Philip I.
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Thrace, Hadrianopolis. GORDIAN III. 238-244 AD. AE 26
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Moesia Inferior, Tomis. GORDIAN III & TRANQUILLINA. AE 26 mm. Four assaria. Confronted busts of Gordian & Tranquillina. / Athena stg. left, holding spear and leaning on shield. D in ex.
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Moesia Inferior, Markianopolis. GORDIAN III & TRANQUILLINA. AE 27 mm. Confronted busts of Gordian & Tranquillina. / Nemesis stg left, holding rod and bridle; wheel at side.
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Moesia Inferior, Dionysopolis. GORDIAN III & SARAPIS. AE 26 mm. Confronted busts of Gordian III and Sarapis. / Asklepios stg. facing , head left, holding serpent-staff.