The Roman Empire
Gordian I, 1– 22 April 238
It is difficult to tell Gordian I Africanus’ actual appearance from his coinage, as there seem to be two portrait types that differ considerably in their facial expressions. It is difficult to define these portraits in the absence of surviving sculptures. Likely the Roman mint officials faced considerable challenges in defining an early portrait type for him and the first ones seem very generic. I attempted to pick typical examples of the second more individual portraits of this very shortlived emperor. AMP. Denarius April 238, AR 2.82 g. IMP M ANT GORDIANVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. ROMAE A – TERNAE Roma seated l. on shield holding Victory and sceptre. C 8. BMC 8. RIC 4.
Rare. Struck on a very fresh metal and extremely fine Ex Lanz sale, 141, 2008, 638.
A typical individual portrait type of Gordianus I Africanus. AMP.