Owner Comments:
It’s tempting to provide terse Owner’s Comments for this ancient coin. After all, it features Gordian I, who, along with son and co-ruler Gordian II, ruled the Roman Empire for only three short weeks in 238 AD. Gordian ascended from governor of Africa to claim the purple amidst rising discontent with the oppressive policies enacted by incumbent Emperor Maximinus. Although supported by Rome’s Senate, Gordian’s rebellion was quickly quelled by neighboring legions. Ultimately, he committed suicide.
While the preceding paragraph provides a synopsis, it necessarily omits many interesting facets regarding Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus (158? - 238 AD). For example, Gordian probably relished philosophy more than politics. According to the (admittedly unreliable)
Historia Augusta, Gordian wrote a thirty book treatise on the reigns of Roman Emperors Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. It is also interesting to note that the
Lives of the Sophists, written by Flavius Philostratus circa 230s AD, begins with a dedication to a certain (and “most illustrious”) Antoninus Gordianus – probably a reference to Gordian I. Beyond letters, the elder Gordian was apparently also very wealthy. While serving as an aedile, he reportedly funded his own games that were so lavish they surpassed even the imperial games themselves. Unfortunately, such details regarding Gordian cannot be confirmed due to the lack of reliable historical records. Even Gordian’s ancestry remains subject to debate.
It was only relatively late in life that Gordian achieved political prominence and history’s earnest attention. In his late 50s, Gordian served as governor of Britannia Inferior, and while in his early 60s he was appointed Rome’s suffect consul. Other posts probably held by Gordian included the governorship of Coele-Syria, command over Legio IV Scythica stationed near Antioch, and praetorian governorship of Achaea.
Around 238 AD, Gordian became governor of the province of Africa. Eighty years old at the time, he presumably aspired to live out his remaining years in peace. But then something happened that Gordian did not intend. He found himself promoted into the most unlikely post imaginable – that of Roman Emperor. While it is possible Gordian angled for the opportunity, his professed protestations seem equally or even more likely. Exercising a Roman sense of duty worthy of Marcus Aurelius' praise, Gordian accepted the nomination by his fellow local noblemen, who rebelled rather than face financial ruin under Augustus Maximinus’ exorbitant taxes. Given Gordian’s extremely advanced age, it was logical that his son was also brought into the fold as co-Emperor.
The Gordiani set up their power base at Carthage, adding the cognomen
Africanus to their names. They sent a letter to the Senate in Rome outlining a new path for the future Empire. The Senate, evidently discontented with Maximinus and his taxation policies, confirmed the imperial transition. (It should be noted that the Senate’s boldness was concomitantly bolstered by the murder of Maximinus’ Praetorian Prefect.) Hearing the news, many of Rome citizens supported the Gordians' rebellion, eliminating supporters, officials and especially tax collectors of Maximinus alike.
During this period (late March to early April 238 AD), coins were struck advertising Rome’s new imperial duo. Remarkably for such a short period, Rome’s mints produced high-quality aurei, denarii, and sestertii featuring both co-Augusti. Besides Rome, apparently one and only provincial mint, namely Alexandria in Egypt, produced coins in the Gordiani’s names. The existence of those tetradrachms, including the present coin in this collection, is consistent with Alexandria’s association with the intelligentsia of the ancient world.
The obverse depicts the laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of the elder Gordian encircled within the inscription A K M AN ΓOΡΔIANOC CEM AΦΡ EY CEB. Very similar designs were struck for father and son; therefore, proper attribution requires careful inspection of the obverse bust. In this instance, numerous features indicated the Elder Gordian: the full head of hair, thin face, beaked nose, recessed jaw, and, in particular, the hanging jowls. Examining further, Gordian I’s expression on this coin seems disquieted, as if the new Augustus knew his reign would prove troublesome.
The Gordiani’s reign lasted only three weeks. Their fatal mistake was an inauspicious attempt to appoint a new governor over neighboring Numidia. The sitting governor, Capellianus, did not acquiesce. Instead, Capellianus mustered his legions and marched to Carthage. In response, the younger Gordian hastily cobbled together some counteroffensive forces. Alas, the later were disjointed and crudely-armed, absolutely no match for Capellianus’ well-outfitted and disciplined troops. Facing his imminent downfall, the elderly Gordian felt duty-bound to commit suicide by hanging. The oldest man ever to ascend as Roman Emperor also proved the shortest lived.
Coin Details: ROMAN PROVINCIAL, EGYPT, Alexandria, Gordian I, AD 238, Potin Tetradrachm (23mm, 12.51 g, 12h), Dated RY 1 (AD 238), NGC Grade: Ch XF *, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Obverse: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, A K M AN GORDIANOC CEM AFR EYCEB, Reverse: Eagle standing left, head right, wreath in beak; L A (date) across field, References: Köln 2598; Dattari (Savio) 4665; K&G 68.1; Emmett 3342.1.