Gordiaans III, Antoninianus, 241-243
Rome - Zilver - PR - RIC:92
IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG.
P M TR P IIII COS II P P
4.34 gr
Gordian III
- Reign over Roman Empire (Western and Byzantine): AD 238–244
- Period: Crisis of the Third Century
Originally from Anatolia (Asia Minor), Marcus Antonius Gordianus was born in January 225 and died at Circesium in Mesopotamia (modern-day Al-Busayrah in Syria) in 244. He was scarcely 19 years of age and reigned over the empire for just 6 years.
Gordian III was but 13 years old when he was thrust to power by the citizens of Rome. The Empire then faced internal revolts and felt strong pressures at its borders, in particular that of the Parthians in the East. His reign fell in the middle of the Crisis of the Third Century, also known as the “Military Anarchy”, during which tyrants and emperors succeeded one another at a terrific rate from the death of Alexander Severus, assassinated in 235, until the arrival of Diocletian in 284.
Picture: Bust of Gordian III, The Staatliche Museen’s Collection of Classical Antiquities, Altes Museum, Berlin - Picture taken by Marcus Cyron (CC)
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
An “AU(55-58)” quality
As in numismatics, it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
About Uncirculated(55-58)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has been in circulation but sufficiently little that its original beauty is preserved almost in its entirety. The wear is barely visible and any other defect can only be identified with a magnifying glass or a particularly keen eye. The number (55-58) indicates that between three quarters and almost all of the original luster remains.
