Markianopolis, Gordian III., bronze coin — Zeus enthroned left (CN type 22559)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
AD 238–244
Issuing entity
Moesia inferiorCoin in bronze struck at Markianopolis 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 22559 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Confronted busts of Gordian III, laureate, draped and cuirassed, right, and of Serapis, draped and wearing kalathos, left. Legend: Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ΑVΓ. Reverse: Zeus enthroned left, holding patera and sceptre; at his feet, eagle. Legend: VΠ ΜΗΝΟΦΙΛΟV ΜΑ-Ρ-ΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤ/ΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 11.32 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 26.7 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). Published references cited by the corpus: Kapossy and Righetti, Sylloge nummorum Graecorum. Schweiz. 2: Münzen der Antike: Katalog der Sammlung Jean-Pierre Righetti im Bernischen Historischen Museum, Bern 1993, nr. 231, pl. 16; Pick, Die antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands. 1. Die antiken Münzen von Dacien und Moesien. 1. Halbbd. I 1, Berlin 1898, nr. 1125; 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. 1412; Linked type corpus, RPC VII.2, 1412.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 5
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 4
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This coin was issued by the city of Marcianopolis, located in the Roman province of Moesia Inferior. Marcianopolis was an ancient Greek and then Roman capital city situated south of the Danube River in the Haemus Peninsula, at the site of modern-day Devnya in Bulgaria. The coin was struck during the reign of Gordian III, who served as Roman emperor from 238 to 244 after becoming the second-youngest sole emperor of the united Roman Empire at the age of 13.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Recorded diameter
- 26.7 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 11.32 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Markianopolis
- Region
- Moesia inferior
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Gordian III.
Design
- Obverse type
- Confronted busts of Gordian III, laureate, draped and cuirassed, right, and of Serapis, draped and wearing kalathos, left.
- Reverse type
- Zeus enthroned left, holding patera and sceptre; at his feet, eagle.
- Obverse legend
- Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ΑVΓ
- Reverse legend
- VΠ ΜΗΝΟΦΙΛΟV ΜΑ-Ρ-ΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤ/ΩΝ
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/22559
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 22559
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. 231, pl. 16
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 1125
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographynr. 1412
- external concordanceRPC VII.2, 1412
Research required
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution