Gordian III Silver Denarius EF

Gordian III was in Rome when his grandfather, Gordian I, and uncle, Gordian II, declared themselves emperors in A.D. 238 from Carthage. They were in opposition to Maximinus Thrax but both were defeated by his loyal governor and died after a joint reign of just 21 days. In Rome the Senate hurriedly appointed Balbinus and Pupienus as joint emperors; they immediately gave Gordian III the rank of Caesar to bolster their own regime. Luckily for them Maximinus was killed by his own men, but after just a few months both Balbinus and Pupienus were murdered by the Praetorian Guard. Gordian III was then proclaimed sole emperor and thus emerged from the turbulent events of A.D. 238 as sole ruler of the mighty Roman Empire, all at the age of thirteen! Very little is recorded of the events of Gordian’s six year reign, which in ancient writings is usually a sign of peace and prosperity. In A.D. 242, he led an initially successful campaign against the Persians. But in A.D. 244 he died, likely murdered by the Praetorian Prefect who then seized the throne, Philip I. The coins we offer here are billon silver Denarius showing Gordian III’s portrait on the obverse and various reverses. The grade of the coin is Extremely Fine. PLEASE NOTE: PHOTOGRAPHY IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COIN SUPPLIED