Coin Information: Tantalus S/N 35463
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| Coin type: | Roman Provincial |
| Entered by: | scottatlaw |
| Added on: | Aug 7, 2009 |
| Ruler: | Gordian III (AVGVSTVS) |
| Region, City: | Moesia Superior, Viminacium |
| Coin: | VF- AE Dupondius IMPGORDIANVSPIVSFELAVG - Radiate crown, paludamentum draped over cuirass bust right (viewed from rear). PMS-C-O-LVIM - Gordian III offering a sacrifice over an alter, holding a spear right and, flanked by standards surmounted by the icons of a bull (left) and lion (right). |
| Exergue: | ANIIII |
| Mint: | (Year 4) |
| Wt./Size/Axis: | 8.10g / 25mm / - |
| Rarity: | R.9 |
| References: |
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| Acquisition/Sale: | Private Seller Private Sale August 2009 |
| Notes: | Sep 25, 09 - Unlisted in Boric-Brescovic
This coin is easily one of the best I've acquired in the past year or two. High grade, excellent strike, well cleaned and preserved, and very significant and desireable reverse type. When I first began collecting Viminacium coins, this was one of the very first that I realy wanted BAD. The strange reverse type is completely out of left field for Viminacium coins and it was exceedingly rare. The reverse depicts none other than Gordian III sacrificing over an alter. This coin is one of a sudden series of year 4 Dupondii and Sestertii that celebrate Gordian's military sucess in the east. These coins are significant because it is the first time that these coins remove the personification of Moesia from the coins altogether. The message in fact is little more then pro-military propoganda (Gordian is offering sacrifice in celebration of the local legions). What is more odd about this is that the message seems to be aimed at the members of the legions rather than the populace, unlike Decius' massive propoganda campaign. The relative scarcity of these military themed coins (not counting the Moesia with standards reverse type more commonly found on dupondii) suggests that these coins might have been part of a special production of coins given to members of the legion or possibly veterans returning from the east. The nature of the coin's propoganda certainly seems more fitting as a Thanksgiving offering then as a mere special commemorative issue. |
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| Comments: | No comments have been posted for this coin.Comments are not being accepted for this coin. |
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