82F. Antoninianus Coin, Gordian III, Jupiter type, 241-243 AD, silver
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82F. Antoninianus Coin, Gordian III, Jupiter type, 241-243 AD, silver
Starting price:
EUR 200
Not sold
silver, d=22 mm
Emperor Gordian III, officially known as Marcus Antonius Gordianus, was the youngest legitimate emperor of Rome, ascending to the throne in 238 AD, at just 13 years old. Although his tender age prevented him from effectively ruling the empire without support, his reign had considerable importance, especially in an extremely unstable period in Roman history, known as the "Crisis of the Third Century".
His importance lies primarily in the fact that he represented a compromise solution between the Senate and the army, at a time when several emperors had been killed in rapid succession. The choice of Gordian III restored order and confidence in the traditional institutions of the empire for a while. He was supported by both the Senate and the population, which conferred him a rare legitimacy in that era marked by usurpations and civil conflicts.
Another significant aspect of his reign was the military campaign against the Sasanian Persians, a major threat on the empire's eastern frontier. Under the leadership of his general Philip the Arab, the Roman army managed to achieve some important successes against the Persian king Shapur I, restoring for a while Rome's control in the Mesopotamian region.
Although his reign ended tragically, with his death in unclear circumstances in 244 AD, probably as a result of a conspiracy, the legacy of Gordian III remains significant. He was a symbol of stability in a period of chaos and provided a brief period of calm and unity in an empire on the brink of disintegration.
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