Gordian III Colosseum Medallion
Ex Mazzini Collection

CNG 102, Lot: 1075. Estimate $50000. Sold for $30000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Gordian III. AD 238-244. Æ Medallion (37mm, 47.82 g, 12h). Rome mint, 4th officina. Special emission, AD 244. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FELIX AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / MVNIFICENTIA GORDIANI AVG, Colosseum: within, bull on left fighting elephant on right; to left, Fortuna standing facing behind the Meta Sudans, her head left and holding rudder; to right, statue within small temple or shrine. Gnecchi II 23 (pl. 104, no. 6); Mazzini 166 (this coin); Banti 54. VF, green and brown patina with patches of red, small areas of roughness.

Ex Numismatic Fine Arts XXXII (10 June 1993), lot 339; Münzen und Medaillen AG 66 (22 October 1984), lot 798 (note: Münzhandlung Basel I pedigree listed there is erroneous); Hess-Leu 36 (17 April 1968), lot 525; Giuseppe Mazzini Collection, 166.

In AD 217, the Colosseum was struck by lightning and damaged. Repairs were begun under Elagabalus, but the amphitheater was not deemed usable again until early in the reign of Severus Alexander, as attested by both the Historia Augusta and a special issue of coins depicting the Colosseum. A revival of the Colosseum type on medallions of Gordian III, such as the present specimen, may indicate that restoration work continued as late as AD 238 (see BMCRE VI, p. 54).

On the other hand, the obverse legend of this medallion could point to a later date. J.M.C. Toynbee draws a parallel with another medallion dated to AD 244, which depicts the emperor presiding (metaphorically) over games in the Circus. Toynbee suggests that the Colosseum medallion was also struck to commemorate games presented by the emperor, presumably in honor of his recent Persian victory (see Roman Medallions, pp. 111, 165, & 200).