Obverse. Photo © CoinArchives
  • 1 Sestertius 242-243 AD, Varbanov# 118, Moesia Superior, Gordian III
  • 1 Sestertius 242-243 AD, Varbanov# 118, Moesia Superior, Gordian III
Description

Viminacium was a major city (provincial capital) and military camp of the Roman province of Moesia (today's Serbia), and the capital of Moesia Superior. It became a colonia with minting privilege in 239 AD during the rule of Gordian III (238-244) and housed the Legion VII and Legion IV. The minting privilege was withdrawn during Gallenius (253-268). Viminacium was destroyed in 441 by the Attila the Hun, but rebuilt by Justinian I.

Gordian III (Marcus Antonius Gordianus Pius Augustus) was Roman Emperor from 238 AD to 244 AD. At the age of 13, he became the youngest sole legal Roman emperor throughout the existence of the united Roman Empire. Gordian was the son of Antonia Gordiana and an unnamed Roman Senator who died before 238. Antonia Gordiana was the daughter of Emperor Gordian I and younger sister of Emperor Gordian II. Very little is known of his early life before his acclamation. Gordian had assumed the name of his maternal grandfather in 238 AD.

Obverse

Head of Gordian III, laureate, right, in a laurel wreath.

IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG (Imperator Gordianus Pius Felix Avgustus)

IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG

Reverse

Moesia (the symbolic figure of the province) standing left, between bull to left & lion to right.

P MS COL VIM (Provincia Moesia Superior Colonia Viminacium)
Exergue: AN IIII (Anno 4)

P MS COL VIM
AN IIII

Edge -
Characteristics
Material Bronze
Weight 16.1 g
Diameter 28 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment -
Mint
Viminacium

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