Leu Numismatik AG
Auction 1 25 Oct 2017
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Tranquillina, Augusta, 241-244. Antoninianus (Silver, 21 mm, 4.89 g, 7 h), Rome, 241. SABINIA TRANQVILLINA AVG Diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina set on crescent to right. Rev. CONCORDIA AVGG Gordian III, on left and standing right, and Tranquillina, on right and standing left, clasping their right hands together. Cohen 4. RIC 250. Very rare. A beautifully toned example with a particularly charming portrait and an extensive pedigree. Good very fine.
Ex Nomos 11, 9 October 2015, 198, from the ESR collection, Hess-Leu, 23 March 1961, 322, ex Hess-Leu, 2 April 1958, 374, from the collection of J. P. Morgan, W. Raymond, The J. Pierpont Morgan Collection, New York, 1953, p. 54, 24 and the Martinetti Collection, Sambon & Canessa, 18 November 1907, 2688.
Tranquillina was the daughter of Gaius Julius Timesitheus, an eques who had a sucessful career under the Severans and Maximinus before he finally became the Praetorian Prefect of the juvenile Gordian III in 241. As the de facto-ruler of the empire, he had his daughter married to the emperor and acted as the protector of the imperial couple. Timesitheus appears to have been an effective administrator and general, but he eventually died under suspicious circumstances after defeating a Sasanian army in 243. His successor was Marcus Julius Philippus, who assumed the throne few months later after Gordian III had also conveniently died afield. Whatever the role of Philip in these suspicious events, Tranquillina herself consequently disappeared from all sources without a trace.
Ex Nomos 11, 9 October 2015, 198, from the ESR collection, Hess-Leu, 23 March 1961, 322, ex Hess-Leu, 2 April 1958, 374, from the collection of J. P. Morgan, W. Raymond, The J. Pierpont Morgan Collection, New York, 1953, p. 54, 24 and the Martinetti Collection, Sambon & Canessa, 18 November 1907, 2688.
Tranquillina was the daughter of Gaius Julius Timesitheus, an eques who had a sucessful career under the Severans and Maximinus before he finally became the Praetorian Prefect of the juvenile Gordian III in 241. As the de facto-ruler of the empire, he had his daughter married to the emperor and acted as the protector of the imperial couple. Timesitheus appears to have been an effective administrator and general, but he eventually died under suspicious circumstances after defeating a Sasanian army in 243. His successor was Marcus Julius Philippus, who assumed the throne few months later after Gordian III had also conveniently died afield. Whatever the role of Philip in these suspicious events, Tranquillina herself consequently disappeared from all sources without a trace.