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Orbis Collectibles

Anchialos, Gordian III., bronze coin — Façade of a tetrastyle temple with dot on the pediment (CN type 21842)

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 Anchialos 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 21842 (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 ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ΑΥΓ ϹΕΒ ΤΡΑΝΚΥΛΛΕΙΝΑ. Reverse: Façade of a tetrastyle temple with dot on the pediment. Inside cult image of naked Apollo (?) standing facing, head right; resting right arm over the head and holding lyre over tripod with left hand. Legend: ΑΓΧΙΑΛΕΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 12.25 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 26.5 mm (from 1 recorded specimen).

Published references cited by the corpus: Strack and Münzer, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands. 2. Die Münzen der Thraker und der Städte Abdera, Ainos, Anchialos 1. Halbbd., Berlin 1912, nr. 680; Tachev, Monetosecheneto na Anchialos (Coinage of Anchialos), Sofia 2018, p. 736-738, nr. 622-633, pl. 183-184; 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. 1184-1185; Linked type corpus, RPC VII.2, 1185; Linked type corpus, RPC VII.2, 1184.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
5
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
5

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Anchialos, an ancient city situated on the Black Sea coast and known today as Pomorie, issued civic bronze coinage during the Roman Imperial period. Gordian III ruled as Roman emperor from 238 to 244, having acceded at the age of thirteen. He was married to Empress Furia Sabinia Tranquillina, daughter of the Praetorian Prefect Timesitheus. This coin type dates to his reign, depicting the confronted busts of the emperor and his empress.

Physical characteristics

Material
bronze
Recorded diameter
26.5 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
12.25 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Anchialos
Region
Thrace
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
Façade of a tetrastyle temple with dot on the pediment. Inside cult image of naked Apollo (?) standing facing, head right; resting right arm over the head and holding lyre over tripod with left hand.
Obverse legend
ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ΑΥΓ ϹΕΒ ΤΡΑΝΚΥΛΛΕΙΝΑ
Reverse legend
ΑΓΧΙΑΛΕΩΝ

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/21842
Type corpus identifier
CN type 21842

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

Research required

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