Markianopolis, Gordian III., bronze coin — Nude youth standing facing (CN type 16012)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
AD 238–241
Issuing entity
Moesia inferiorCoin in bronze struck at Markianopolis in Moesia inferior under Gordian III., dated AD 238–241. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 16012 (issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Laureate bust of Gordian III, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ΑVΓ. Reverse: Nude youth (Dioscur) standing facing, head right, holding a spear in right hand and reigns in left hand; behind him, a horse standing right, right hoof raised. Legend: VΠ ΜΗΝΟΦΙΛΟV ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 10.59 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 26 mm (from 1 recorded specimen).
Published references cited by the corpus: 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. 1421; Linked type corpus, RPC VII.2, 1421.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 3
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 2
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Marcianopolis, also known as Markianopolis or Parthenopolis, was an ancient Greek and Roman capital city situated in Moesia Inferior, at modern Devnya, Bulgaria. Gordian III served as Roman emperor from 238 to 244, having acceded to sole rule at the age of 13. During his reign between AD 238 and 241, the civic authorities of Marcianopolis struck local bronze coinage carrying the young emperor's portrait and imperial titles.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Recorded diameter
- 26 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 10.59 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Markianopolis
- Region
- Moesia inferior
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Gordian III.
Design
- Obverse type
- Laureate bust of Gordian III, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum.
- Reverse type
- Nude youth (Dioscur) standing facing, head right, holding a spear in right hand and reigns in left hand; behind him, a horse standing right, right hoof raised.
- Obverse legend
- Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ΑVΓ
- Reverse legend
- VΠ ΜΗΝΟΦΙΛΟV ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ
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/16012
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 16012
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
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 1421
- external concordanceRPC VII.2, 1421
Research required
- No rights-cleared photograph attached yet