Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XIX 26-27 Mar 2020
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Gordian I Africanus Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 238. IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / P M TR P COS P P, Gordian, laureate and togate, standing left, holding olive branch in right hand and parazonium in left; S-C across fields. RIC 7; C. 3; BMCRE 4. 18.74g, 32mm, 12h.
Extremely Fine. Very Rare; among the finest known examples of the type.
Ex Philip Mayo Collection (Palm Springs, CA);
Privately purchased from Freeman & Sear Inc.
Gordian's long and distinguished career included the command of Legio IV Scythica stationed in Syria, the governorship of Britain in AD 216, and holding the position of Suffect Consul some time during the reign of Elagabalus. As an aedile, he had gained great popularity for the magnificence of the games and shows he produced for the people, however his prudence in remaining far from intrigue allowed him to escape the attention of jealous and paranoid emperors.
In 237, during his term as governor of Africa Proconsularis, a revolt broke out against the oppressive rule of Maximinus Thrax. This was triggered by the actions of Maximinus's procurator in Africa, who sought to extract the exorbitant taxes and fines to the extent of falsifying charges against the local aristocracy. A riot saw the death of the procurator, after which the people turned to Gordian and demanded that he take the imperial throne. Gordian, despite his advanced years and claiming he was too old to rule, eventually yielded to the popular clamour and assumed both the purple and the cognomen Africanus on 22 March. As Edward Gibbon relates: "Gordianus, their proconsul, and the object of their choice [as emperor], refused, with unfeigned reluctance, the dangerous honour, and begged with tears that they should suffer him to terminate in peace a long and innocent life, without staining his feeble age with civil blood. Their menaces compelled him to accept the Imperial purple, his only refuge indeed against the jealous cruelty of Maximin."
Because of his age, he insisted that his son (Gordian II) be co-emperor with him; he sent a delegation to the Senate, who confirmed him as emperor and likely orchestrated the assassination of Maximinus' praetorian prefect. Gaining the support of many of the provinces, the rebellion thus seemed to be successful, however Capelianus, governor of Numidia and a loyal supporter of Maximinus, invaded the province of Africa at the head of the III Augusta, the only legion in the area along with other veteran units. Gordian II's militia army raised in haste and we may assume largely untrained, was defeated soundly. Upon hearing of the death of his son, Gordian took his own life. Thus the elder Gordians died, but public opinion cherished their memory as peace-loving and literate men, victims of Maximinus' oppression.
Meanwhile, Maximinus was on the verge of marching on Rome and the Senate had elected Pupienus and Balbinus as joint emperors. These senators were not popular men and the population of Rome was still shocked by the elder Gordians' fate, so the Senate decided to take the teenage grandson of Gordian I, nephew of Gordian II, rename him Marcus Antonius Gordianus like his grandfather, and raise him to the rank of Caesar and imperial heir. Although Pupienus and Balbinus successfully defeated Maximinus, their joint reign was doomed. The two emperors were killed by the Praetorian Guard and the young Gordian III proclaimed sole emperor.
Extremely Fine. Very Rare; among the finest known examples of the type.
Ex Philip Mayo Collection (Palm Springs, CA);
Privately purchased from Freeman & Sear Inc.
Gordian's long and distinguished career included the command of Legio IV Scythica stationed in Syria, the governorship of Britain in AD 216, and holding the position of Suffect Consul some time during the reign of Elagabalus. As an aedile, he had gained great popularity for the magnificence of the games and shows he produced for the people, however his prudence in remaining far from intrigue allowed him to escape the attention of jealous and paranoid emperors.
In 237, during his term as governor of Africa Proconsularis, a revolt broke out against the oppressive rule of Maximinus Thrax. This was triggered by the actions of Maximinus's procurator in Africa, who sought to extract the exorbitant taxes and fines to the extent of falsifying charges against the local aristocracy. A riot saw the death of the procurator, after which the people turned to Gordian and demanded that he take the imperial throne. Gordian, despite his advanced years and claiming he was too old to rule, eventually yielded to the popular clamour and assumed both the purple and the cognomen Africanus on 22 March. As Edward Gibbon relates: "Gordianus, their proconsul, and the object of their choice [as emperor], refused, with unfeigned reluctance, the dangerous honour, and begged with tears that they should suffer him to terminate in peace a long and innocent life, without staining his feeble age with civil blood. Their menaces compelled him to accept the Imperial purple, his only refuge indeed against the jealous cruelty of Maximin."
Because of his age, he insisted that his son (Gordian II) be co-emperor with him; he sent a delegation to the Senate, who confirmed him as emperor and likely orchestrated the assassination of Maximinus' praetorian prefect. Gaining the support of many of the provinces, the rebellion thus seemed to be successful, however Capelianus, governor of Numidia and a loyal supporter of Maximinus, invaded the province of Africa at the head of the III Augusta, the only legion in the area along with other veteran units. Gordian II's militia army raised in haste and we may assume largely untrained, was defeated soundly. Upon hearing of the death of his son, Gordian took his own life. Thus the elder Gordians died, but public opinion cherished their memory as peace-loving and literate men, victims of Maximinus' oppression.
Meanwhile, Maximinus was on the verge of marching on Rome and the Senate had elected Pupienus and Balbinus as joint emperors. These senators were not popular men and the population of Rome was still shocked by the elder Gordians' fate, so the Senate decided to take the teenage grandson of Gordian I, nephew of Gordian II, rename him Marcus Antonius Gordianus like his grandfather, and raise him to the rank of Caesar and imperial heir. Although Pupienus and Balbinus successfully defeated Maximinus, their joint reign was doomed. The two emperors were killed by the Praetorian Guard and the young Gordian III proclaimed sole emperor.