Egypt. Alexandria. Gordian I Africanus, March-April 238. Tetradrachm (Billon, 22.5 mm, 13.38 g). Dated RY 1 (= 238). Α Κ Μ ΑΝ ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟϹ ϹΕΜ ΑΦΡ ΕΥϹΕ[Β] Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev. Zeus enthroned left, holding phiale and scepter; to left at feet, eagle standing left, head right; L A (date) to upper left. Geissen 2605 var. (obv. legend). Dattari-Savio 4664 var. (same). RPC VII.2, 3640. Emmett 3351. Cf. SAVIO A. , Tetradrammmi alessandrini, pp. 130-132. Lovely dark patina with minor roughness, very well struck. Good Very Fine. Very Rare.

Ex Giovanni Dattari Collection 4664. Ex Naville Numismatics Ltd. 40, 27.05.2018, lot 418.

From the Dattari collection, too, it comes this splendid and very rare tetradrachm of the ephemeral old man Gordian I the African, who reigned together with his son Gordian II, during the months of February-March of 238 A.D., to end by suicide at the news of the death in battle of Gordian II. On the reverse appears the auspicious Roman Zeus, at least in the hope of the senate, which immediately confirmed the election of the new sovereign