Gemini, LLC
Auction 12 11 January 2015
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Tranquillina, Wife of Gordian III. Denarius, 3.30g (8h). Rome, after 241 AD. Obv: SABINA TRANQVILLINA AVG Draped bust right wearing stephane. Rx: CONCORDIA AVGG Concordia seated left holding patera and double cornucopia. RIC 252 (R4). Mint State
Very rare, both as a Rome-mint coin of Tranquillina and for its denomination. Cohen 1 values the corresponding antoninianus of Tranquillina at 800 francs, ten times his base price for an aureus of Gordian III, but the denarius of this empress was unknown to him. Gordian III had struck denarii as his regular silver denomination for a few months in 240, but by 241 when he married Tranquillina he had reverted to the antoninianus as standard silver coin, and the denarius had become a rare special denomination probably struck for distribution on special occasions, like the silver quinarius. The surviving Rome-mint coins of Tranquillina can be interpreted as a special issue for her marriage to Gordian in 241, after which her father, Gordian's praetorian prefect Timisitheus, apparently turned down the honor of coinage at Rome for his daughter, though provincial mints struck for her in considerable volume
Very rare, both as a Rome-mint coin of Tranquillina and for its denomination. Cohen 1 values the corresponding antoninianus of Tranquillina at 800 francs, ten times his base price for an aureus of Gordian III, but the denarius of this empress was unknown to him. Gordian III had struck denarii as his regular silver denomination for a few months in 240, but by 241 when he married Tranquillina he had reverted to the antoninianus as standard silver coin, and the denarius had become a rare special denomination probably struck for distribution on special occasions, like the silver quinarius. The surviving Rome-mint coins of Tranquillina can be interpreted as a special issue for her marriage to Gordian in 241, after which her father, Gordian's praetorian prefect Timisitheus, apparently turned down the honor of coinage at Rome for his daughter, though provincial mints struck for her in considerable volume