Gordian III. AD 238-244. AV Aureus (20mm, 5.24 g, 6h). Rome mint, 1st officina. 8th-11th emission, AD 240-243. NGC graded MS, 5/5, 3/5, marks.

CNG Feature Auction 121
Lot: 918. Estimated: $ 5 000

Roman Imperial, Gold

Sold For $ 5 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Gordian III. AD 238-244. AV Aureus (20mm, 5.24 g, 6h). 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 drapery over shoulders and left arm, raising right hand and holding globe in left hand. RIC IV 97; Calicó 3186a var. (break in rev. legend). In NGC encapsulation 6369736-001, graded MS, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 3/5, marks.

Ex Heritage 3049 (8 September 2016), lot 30275.

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 CNG Feature Auction 121 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 6-8 October 2022. This lot is in Session Four, which will begin 7 October 2022 at 2 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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