Dionysopolis, Gordian III., 3 unit — Demeter standing facing (CN type 16189)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
AD 238–244
Issuing entity
Moesia inferior3 unit in bronze struck at Dionysopolis in Moesia inferior 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 16189 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Laureate head of Gordian III, right. Legend: ΑVΤ · Κ · Μ · ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟᛈ ΑVΓ. Reverse: Demeter standing facing, head left, holding ears of corn in right hand, left resting on long torch. Legend: ΔΙΟΝΥϹΟΠΟΛЄΙΤΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 6.55 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 23–24.2 mm (from 2 recorded specimens). Published references cited by the corpus: Tachev, Yanislav, The Coinage of Dionysopolis IV century BC - III century AD, Sofia 2020, p. 554, nr. 11, pl. 34; 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. 1645; Linked type corpus, RPC VII.2, 1645.
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, ruled as Roman emperor from 238 to 244 after becoming the second-youngest sole emperor of the united Roman Empire at the age of 13. During his reign, civic bronze coinage was issued across provincial centres, including Dionysopolis in Moesia Inferior. Moesia was a Roman province created south of the Danube River in the Haemus Peninsula, with Moesia Inferior encompassing parts of Northern Bulgaria, Northern Dobruja and southern Ukraine.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Denomination
- 3 unit
- Recorded diameter
- 23–24.2 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 6.55 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Dionysopolis
- Region
- Moesia inferior
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Gordian III.
Design
- Obverse type
- Laureate head of Gordian III, right.
- Reverse type
- Demeter standing facing, head left, holding ears of corn in right hand, left resting on long torch.
- Obverse legend
- ΑVΤ · Κ · Μ · ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟᛈ ΑVΓ
- Reverse legend
- ΔΙΟΝΥϹΟΠΟΛЄΙΤΩΝ
Identification
- Period
- Roman Imperial Period
- 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/16189
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 16189
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Recorded
- 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 bibliographyp. 554, nr. 11, pl. 34
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 1645
- external concordanceRPC VII.2, 1645
Research required
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution