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Istros, Gordian III., bronze coin — Bearded god with kalathos (Theos Megas (CN type 16364)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 238–244

Issuing entity

Moesia inferior

Coin 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 16364 (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 ϹΑΒΙ ΤΡΑΝΚVΛΙΝΑ. Reverse: Bearded god with kalathos (Theos Megas, Mitra, Serapis) on horse pacing right; flaming altar under the horse's right foreleg; behind, bird on pointed staff. Legend: ΙϹΤΡΙΗΝΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 12.18 g (mean of 4 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 26.4–29 mm (from 4 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. 1822; Pick, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands. 1. Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien. 1. Halbbd. I 1, Berlin 1898, nr. 524; Linked type corpus, RPC VII.2, 1822.

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

Issued by the city of Istros in Moesia inferior, this coin dates to the reign of Gordian III, who ruled as Roman emperor from 238 to 244 after becoming the second-youngest sole emperor at age 13. Istros was founded as a Greek colony on the western coast of the Black Sea and came under Roman rule from the 1st century AD. The obverse depicts Gordian alongside his wife, the Roman empress Furia Sabinia Tranquillina.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
26.4–29 mm (from 4 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
12.18 g (mean of 4 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
Bearded god with kalathos (Theos Megas, Mitra, Serapis) on horse pacing right; flaming altar under the horse's right foreleg; behind, bird on pointed staff.
Obverse legend
ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤΩ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΑΒΙ ΤΡΑΝΚVΛΙΝΑ
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. 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/16364
Type corpus identifier
CN type 16364

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 22799

    Same mint, denomination and design (obverse legend ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΑΒ ΤΡΑΝΚVΛΙΝΑ ΑVΓΟ; reverse legend ΙϹΤΡΙΗΝΩΝ); dated AD 238–244. Consolidated into this entry

Research required

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