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Orbis Collectibles

Anchialos, Gordian III., bronze coin — Labour of Heracles: Nude Heracles standing right (CN type 14928)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 238–244

Issuing entity

Thrace

Coin in bronze struck at Anchialos in Thrace under Gordian III., dated AD 238–244. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 14928 (issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Laureate bust of Gordian III, left, partly seen from behind, wearing cuirass and paludamentum, holding spear pointing forward and shield decorated with eagle. Legend: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΑVΓ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ. Reverse: Labour of Heracles: Nude Heracles standing right, holding club overhead, grasping Hippolyte by hair, seated on collapsing horse. Legend: ΟVΛΠΙΑΝΩΝ ΑΓΧΙΑΛΕΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 44.52 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 40 mm (from 1 recorded specimen).

Published references cited by the corpus: Tachev, Monetosecheneto na Anchialos (Coinage of Anchialos), Sofia 2018, p. 624, nr. 7, pl. 127; Mairat and Spoerri Butcher, RPC VII 2: Roman provincial coinage. Vol. VII 2: From Gordian I to Gordian III (AD 238–244): all provinces except Asia. print and online, London 2022, nr. 1103; Linked type corpus, RPC VII.2, 1103.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
4
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
3

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Gordian III, born Marcus Antonius Gordianus, served as Roman emperor from 238 to 244. At the age of 13, he became the second-youngest sole emperor of the united Roman Empire, having acceded as the grandson of Emperor Gordian I and nephew of Emperor Gordian II. This bronze coin was issued under his imperial authority between AD 238 and 244 by the city of Anchialos in Thrace.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
40 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
44.52 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Anchialos
Region
Thrace
Authority type
City
Issuing authority
Gordian III.

Design

Obverse type
Laureate bust of Gordian III, left, partly seen from behind, wearing cuirass and paludamentum, holding spear pointing forward and shield decorated with eagle.
Reverse type
Labour of Heracles: Nude Heracles standing right, holding club overhead, grasping Hippolyte by hair, seated on collapsing horse.
Obverse legend
ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΑVΓ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ
Reverse legend
ΟVΛΠΙΑΝΩΝ ΑΓΧΙΑΛΕΩΝ

Identification

How to identify
Check the mint name or ethnic, the reverse type and the legend together, then compare weight and module; types from the same mint often differ only in legend arrangement, magistrate names or control marks.
Type corpus record
https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/14928
Type corpus identifier
CN type 14928

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Research required
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Recorded
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Research required

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