Bronze Sestertius, Ancient Rome, c. 238-244 AD
Emperor: Gordian III
Obv:"IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG" Laureate Bust, right.
Rev:" PMTRP V COS II SC" Gordian standing, right, with spear & globe
Mint: Rome, struck 243-244 AD
Sear-R8733v, 29mm, 18.38gm Nice portrait and reverse detail, well centered with fine dark patina.
Gordian III 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 on his early life before his acclamation. Gordian had assumed the name of his maternal grandfather in 238 AD. In 243 Gordian led a large army to the East to counter the Persian invasions of Shapur I. Although Gordian achieved some notable sucess, in 244 he was deposed and put to death in a coup led by his ambitious pretorian prefect, who assumed the title of Emperor as Phiip I.