Markianopolis, Tranquillina, bronze coin — Serapis standing left (CN type 21846)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
AD 241–244
Issuing entity
Moesia inferiorCoin in bronze struck at Markianopolis in Moesia inferior under Tranquillina, dated AD 241–244. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 21846 (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 ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟᛈ *ΑVΓ* ϹЄ ΤΡΑΝΚVΛΛЄΙΝΑ. Reverse: Serapis standing left, wearing kalathos, raising right arm, holding sceptre in left hand. Legend: VΠ ΤΕΡΤVΛΙΑΝΟV ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 11.68 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 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. 1446; Pick, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands. 1. Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien. 1. Halbbd. I 1, Berlin 1898, nr. 1173-1174; Linked type corpus, RPC VII.2, 1446.
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
Marcianopolis was an ancient Greek and Roman city located in Moesia Inferior at the site of modern Devnya, Bulgaria. Gordian III reigned as Roman emperor between 238 and 244, having acceded to sole power at the age of 13. Furia Sabinia Tranquillina, daughter of the Praetorian Prefect Timesitheus, became empress upon marrying Gordian III around 241. This bronze civic issue from Marcianopolis portrays the confronted busts of the imperial couple during their joint reign between 241 and 244.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Recorded diameter
- 28 mm (from 2 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 11.68 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Markianopolis
- Region
- Moesia inferior
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Tranquillina
Design
- Obverse type
- Confronted busts of Gordian III, laureate, wearing paludamentum, and of Tranquillina, diademed and draped.
- Reverse type
- Serapis standing left, wearing kalathos, raising right arm, holding sceptre in left hand.
- Obverse legend
- ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟᛈ *ΑVΓ* ϹЄ ΤΡΑΝΚVΛΛЄΙΝΑ
- Reverse legend
- VΠ ΤΕΡΤVΛΙΑΝΟV ΜΑΡΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ
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/21846
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 21846
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. 1446
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 1173-1174
- external concordanceRPC VII.2, 1446
Research required
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution