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Orbis Collectibles

Odessos, Gordian III., bronze coin — Agonistic table (CN type 16046)

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 Odessos 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 16046 (issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Confronted busts of Gordian III, laureate, draped and cuirassed, right, and of Serapis, draped and wearing kalathos with cornucopia, left. Legend: ΑVΤ · Μ · ΑΝΤ · ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ΑVΓ. Reverse: Agonistic table, surmounted by prize crown; with two palm branches between two purses; below, vase with two handles. Legend: ΟΔΗϹϹΕΙΤΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 11.88 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 28 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. 1565; Pick and Regling, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands. 1. 2. Halbbd., Abt. 1: Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien. Die Münzen von Odessos und Tomis; mit einer Ergänzungstafel, Berlin 1910, nr. 2368; Linked type corpus, RPC VII.2, 1565.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
4
Photograph views
2
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

Struck between AD 238 and 244, this bronze issue was produced by the civic authority of Odessos in Thrace under Gordian III. Gordian III, or Marcus Antonius Gordianus, served as Roman emperor from 238 to 244, having acceded at the age of 13 as the second-youngest sole emperor of the united Roman Empire. Historically known as Odessos, the issuing city developed from a Thracian seaside settlement into a major seaport on the Black Sea.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
28 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
11.88 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

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

Design

Obverse type
Confronted busts of Gordian III, laureate, draped and cuirassed, right, and of Serapis, draped and wearing kalathos with cornucopia, left.
Reverse type
Agonistic table, surmounted by prize crown; with two palm branches between two purses; below, vase with two handles.
Obverse legend
ΑVΤ · Μ · ΑΝΤ · ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ΑVΓ
Reverse legend
ΟΔΗϹϹΕΙΤΩΝ

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. 1 closely related CN type with the same mint, denomination and design is consolidated into this entry and listed under varieties.
Type corpus record
https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/16046
Type corpus identifier
CN type 16046

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

Varieties

  • CN type 16047

    Same mint, denomination and design (obverse legend ΑVΤ Κ ΜΑ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΟϹ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ; reverse legend ΟΔΗϹϹΕΙΤΩΝ); dated AD 238–244. Consolidated into this entry

Research required

  • Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution
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