Istros, Gordian III., bronze coin — Athena standing left (CN type 16361)
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 16361 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Confronted busts of Gordian III, laureate, wearing paludamentum, and of Tranquillina, diademed and draped. Legend: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤΩ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΑΒ ΤΡΑΝΚVΛΙ. Reverse: Athena standing left, feeding serpent entwined around olive-tree in front of her with right hand; holding spear in left hand, shield on ground. Legend: ΙϹΤΡΙΗΝΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 14.28 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 27–28 mm (from 2 recorded specimens).
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. 1818; Pick, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands. 1. Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien. 1. Halbbd. I 1, Berlin 1898, p. 179, nr. 527; Linked type corpus, RPC VII.2, 1818.
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
Histria, also known as Istros, was founded as a Greek polis on the western coast of the Black Sea and came under Roman rule from the 1st century AD in Moesia. This bronze issue dates to the reign of Gordian III, who ruled as Roman emperor between 238 and 244. The obverse depicts Gordian III alongside his wife, Empress Furia Sabinia Tranquillina, daughter of the Praetorian Prefect Timesitheus.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Recorded diameter
- 27–28 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 14.28 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Istros
- Region
- Moesia inferior
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Gordian III.
Design
- Obverse type
- Confronted busts of Gordian III, laureate, wearing paludamentum, and of Tranquillina, diademed and draped.
- Reverse type
- Athena standing left, feeding serpent entwined around olive-tree in front of her with right hand; holding spear in left hand, shield on ground.
- Obverse legend
- ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤΩ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΑΒ ΤΡΑΝΚVΛΙ
- 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/16361
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 16361
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. 1818
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographyp. 179, nr. 527
- external concordanceRPC VII.2, 1818
Research required
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution