The Short Reign of Gordian II

337, Lot: 482. Estimate $2000. Sold for $2750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Gordian II. AD 238. AR Denarius (20mm, 2.51 g, 8h). Rome mint. Struck 1-22 April AD 238. IMP M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / VIRTVS AVGG, Virtus standing left, holding shield and reversed spear. RIC IV 3; BMCRE 30; RSC 14. VF, toned, porosity, minor deposit and light scratches on reverse. Rare.

From Group SGF.

The Roman Empire was in a remarkable situation at the beginning of AD 238, being ruled by a “barbarian” general, Maximinus, who had never set foot in Rome itself during his three year reign. Popular discontent broke into open conflict in North Africa where the murder of a grasping tax assessor lead to a full-scale revolt, with the proconsul, the 80 year old Gordian, proclaimed emperor in Carthage. The Senate in Rome took up his cause, and declared Gordian and his son joint emperors. The governor of Numidia remained loyal to Maximinus, and his legionnaires quickly routed the levies of the Gordians, killing the younger emperor and leading the father to suicide after a reign of thirty-six days (12 April 238).