Silver Double-Denarius, Ancient Rome, c. 238-244 AD
Ruler: Gordian III
Obv: Radiate bust of Emperor, right
Rev: CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia seated left, with patera and double cornucopiae
Mint: Rome (struck 239 AD)
Sear-R8604, 23mm, 3.79gm
Nice portrait, well-centered!
Marcus Antonius Gordianus Pius (January 20, 225 – February 11, 244), known in English as Gordian III, was Roman Emperor from 238 to 244. At the age of 13, he became the youngest sole legal Roman emperor throughout the existence of the united Roman Empire. Gordian was the son of Antonia Gordiana and an unnamed Roman Senator who died before 238.
Antonia Gordiana was the daughter of Emperor Gordian I and younger sister of Emperor Gordian II. Gordian had assumed the name of his maternal grandfather in 238 AD. Due to Gordian's age, the imperial government was surrendered to the aristocratic families, who controlled the affairs of Rome through the senate.
In 240, Sabinianus revolted in the African province, but the situation was dealt with quickly. In 241, Gordian was married to Furia Sabinia Tranquillina, daughter of the newly appointed praetorian prefect, Timesitheus. As chief of the Praetorian guard and father in law of the emperor, Timesitheus quickly became the de facto ruler of the Roman empire. After Timesitheus' death in 243 his successor as Preaetorian Prefect, Philip (the Arab) plotted a coup, and in 244 Gordian was deposed and put to death.
