Mesembria, Tranquillina, 4 unit — Tetrastyle temple on crepidoma (CN type 434)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
AD 241–244
Issuing entity
Thrace4 unit in bronze struck at Mesembria in Thrace 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 434 (period: Roman Imperial Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Confronted busts of Gordian III, laureate, wearing cuirass and paludamentum, and of Tranquillina, diademed and draped. Legend: ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ΑΥΓ ϹΕΒ ΤΡΑΝΚΥΛΛΙΝΑ. Reverse: Tetrastyle temple on crepidoma; within Asclepius standing left, holding serpent-staff; on the pediment, shield. Legend: ΜΕϹΑΜΒΡΙΑΝΩΝ. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 11.41 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 25 mm (from 1 recorded specimen).
Published references cited by the corpus: Karayotov, The Coinage of Mesambria: Bronze Coins of Mesambria, Sozopol 2009, p. 416, nr. 164-166, pl. 140, pic. 164-166; Varbanov, Greek Imperial Coins and their Values II 2. Thrace (from Abdera to Pautalia), Bourgas 2005, p. 352, nr. 4212.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 4
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 2
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Mesembria was an ancient city located on the Black Sea coast of Thrace. This civic issue was struck during the Roman Imperial Period under Tranquillina, full name Furia Sabinia Tranquillina, daughter of the Praetorian Prefect Timesitheus. Tranquillina served as Empress of Rome through her marriage to Emperor Gordian III, whose reign over the Roman Empire lasted from 238 until 244.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Denomination
- 4 unit
- Recorded diameter
- 25 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 11.41 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)
Technical characteristics
- Mint
- Mesembria
- Region
- Thrace
- Authority type
- City
- Issuing authority
- Tranquillina
Design
- Obverse type
- Confronted busts of Gordian III, laureate, wearing cuirass and paludamentum, and of Tranquillina, diademed and draped.
- Reverse type
- Tetrastyle temple on crepidoma; within Asclepius standing left, holding serpent-staff; on the pediment, shield.
- Obverse legend
- ΑVΤ Κ Μ ΑΝΤ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ΑΥΓ ϹΕΒ ΤΡΑΝΚΥΛΛΙΝΑ
- Reverse legend
- ΜΕϹΑΜΒΡΙΑΝΩΝ
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/434
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 434
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Recorded
- 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 bibliographyp. 416, nr. 164-166, pl. 140, pic. 164-166
- Corpus Nummorum bibliographyp. 352, nr. 4212
Research required
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution