Gordian III. AD 238-244. AV Aureus (19mm, 4.97 g, 12h). Rome mint, 1st officina. 8th-11th emission, AD 240-243.

Triton XXV
Lot: 969. Estimated: $ 7 500

Roman Imperial, Gold

Sold For $ 8 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Gordian III. AD 238-244. AV Aureus (19mm, 4.97 g, 12h). Rome mint, 1st officina. 8th-11th emission, AD 240-243. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / AETER N ITATI AVG, Sol Invictus, radiate, naked except for cloak over shoulders and left arm, raising right hand and holding globe in left hand. RIC IV 97; Calicó 3186a var. (break in rev. legend); cf. Hunter 41. Well struck and lustrous. In NGC encapsulation 6066349-061, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5.

Ex Paramount Collection (Heritage 3096, 25 March 2021), lot 30061 (hammer $20,000).

The Roman god Sol began appearing on coins in the Republican period. By the later second century AD he had acquired the epithet Invictus (Unconquered), and during the Severan dynasty his worship became hugely popular in the Roman Legions, both independently and as part of the cult of Mithras. Gordian III’s use of Sol’s image on this aureus probably evokes the upcoming campaign against Persia in the East, where the Mithraic cult originated.

The final winners of all Triton XXV lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 11-12 January 2022. Triton XXV – Session Three – Roman Republican & Imperatorial Coinage through Byzantine Coinage will be held Wednesday morning, 12 January 2022 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 22.50% for all others.

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