Istros, Gordian III., bronze coin — Theos Megas standing left (CN type 16358)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
AD 238–244
Issuing entity
Moesia inferiorCoin in bronze struck at Istros 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 16358 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Laureate bust of youthful Gordian III, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum. Legend: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤΩ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ. Reverse: Theos Megas standing left, wearing kalathos and himation, holding patera and cornucopia; to his feet, left, altar. Legend: ΙϹΤΡΙΗΝΩΝ. Measured specimens give 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. 1816; Linked type corpus, RPC VII.2, 1816.
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
Istros, also known as Histria, was founded by Milesian settlers in the 7th century BC as a Greek colony on the western coast of the Black Sea. By the 1st century AD, the city had come under Roman rule within the province of Moesia. This bronze issue was struck for the city during the reign of Gordian III, who became emperor in 238 at the age of 13 and ruled until 244.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Recorded diameter
- 26 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Istros
- Region
- Moesia inferior
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Gordian III.
Design
- Obverse type
- Laureate bust of youthful Gordian III, right, wearing cuirass and paludamentum.
- Reverse type
- Theos Megas standing left, wearing kalathos and himation, holding patera and cornucopia; to his feet, left, altar.
- Obverse legend
- ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤΩ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ
- Reverse legend
- ΙϹΤΡΙΗΝΩΝ
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/16358
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 16358
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- 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. 1816
- external concordanceRPC VII.2, 1816
Research required
- Weight not recorded in the source corpus
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution