★ From the collection of Apostolo Zeno (1668-1750) ★

Gordian III, 238-244. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 31 mm, 20.89 g, 12 h), Rome, 240. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III to right, seen from behind. Rev. VIRTVS AVG / S - C Mars standing front, head to left, holding branch in his right hand and inverted spear in his left; behind, shield set on ground. Cohen 384. RIC 273a. Somewhat smoothed, otherwise, very fine.

From an old Swiss collection and that of Apostolo Zeno (1668-1750), Part I, Dorotheum, 13-16 June 1955, 1793 (part of).

Apostolo Zeno (1668-1750) was a Venetian librettist and humanist who worked as poet laureate in Vienna in 1715-1729, where he also curated the imperial coin collection of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI (1685-1740). His collection was preserved for more than two-hundred years, until eventually being sold by Dorotheum in 1955, thus forming one of the oldest and most celebrated pedigrees in ancient numismatics.