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 Replies: 436 / Views: 33,055 |
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Pillar of the Community
 3352 Posts |
jessvc1 & echizento => thanks for the coin-comments ... yes, once again, I am in love with this coin (it's definitely one of my favorites!!) jwharper => *thanks* => fascinating stuff, as always!! .... ... again, not a very happy ending for Philip and his son, but "hey, that's what he signed-up for, right?" Wow, that is a gorgeous coin, with outstanding obverse and reverse details!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1549 Posts |
That is a nice Philip and interesting as one of his series where they marked the workshop number on the coins (as later became so standard).
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
DAY #11 => COIN #20
Gordian IIIAntoninianus 238 - 244 AD Mint: Rome Obv: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordianus Pius III to right. Rev: PROVIDENTIA AVG, providentia standing left, globe and sceptre. NOTE => since receiving this coin, I have removed it from its plastic-prison, but sadly, I still do not have access to my home computer and all of my more recently updated coin photos (I am mooching time on my wife's computer)  => please continue to add your comments on the coin, on the emperor and/or any other subject that comes to mind (thanks, I really love logging-on and reading your posts)
... also, please post photos of your Gordian III coins (the more, the merrier)
Edited by stevex6
04/11/2012 07:34 am
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2838 Posts |
Gordian III
He rose to power aged just 13, the youngest sole Emperor ever known, his grandfather and uncle (Gordian I and II) only reigned for thirty-six days during the Year of the Six Emperors.
He appointed Philip the Arab as his prime minister, a mistake as Philip eventually had him killed (aged 19) to rule himself.
The Gordians, all three, were remembered quite well by the Romans, perhaps due to their short reigns during a time of much bloodshed even by Roman standards.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Not much is known about the reign of Gordian III, he was the grandson of Gordian I and nephew of Gordian II. He became emperor at the age of about 14 and ruled for about five and a half years. By all accounts he was a good ruler, but most of the power was with his Pretorian Prefect Timesitheus. Gordian even married his daughter Furia Sabinia Tranquillina. When Timesitheus died Philip I became Pretorian Prefect, but he was not happy in that position and wanted to be emperor. Philip arranged a ploy to disrupt the supply lines to the troops, making them to blame the emperor. It's not know how the emperor died. But Philip succeeded and became emperor.
Edited by echizento
04/11/2012 11:16 am
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
thanks bobbyhelmet & echizento .... Quote:
(Gordian I and II) only reigned for thirty-six days during the Year of the Six Emperors. => wow, that's a pretty high turn-over rate!! (that's almost as high as our mine's trades-people turn-over rate!!) Very cool learning that he was the youngest emperor at only 13-14 years of age!! thanks again for posting |
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
DAY #12 => COIN #19
MAXIMINUS I
"THRAX"A.D. March 235 - April 238 AR (Silver) Denarius Rome Mint, Struck 235-236 AD. 20mm 2.95 grams Obverse: IMP MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: SALVS AVGVSTI, Salus seated left, feeding serpent rising from altar. Ref. RIC 14. BMC 99. C 85  => please continue to post info regarding the coin, the emperor and/or any other Roman tidbits from this era (thanks guys)
... hang in there (we're getting there)
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Maximinus came from peasent stock and was a shepherd from a remote Greek province. Legends say the he was eight feet tall and could eat thirty pounds of meat and drink eight gallons of wine a day. In any event he was a brute of a man. He was recruited into the army and quickly rose in rank. He was well liked by his troops.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Maximinus I was a giant of a man, and possessed natural fighting ability. He rose through the ranks of the Roman army during the reign of Severus Alexander. After a successful governorship in Mesopotamia, he was sent to the Rhine frontier to oversee the regions army recruitment levies. In 235 A.D. he was proclaimed emperor by troops offended by Severus Alexander's peace loving character, and the galling fact that his mother, Julia Mamaea, was the true power in the empire. Maximinus campaigned with great success against the Germanic tribes, but his great cruelty towards the nobility whom he hated, and general ruthlessness inspired several rebellions, notably the failed Gordian rebellion and then the rebellion of Balbinus and Pupienus. Maximinus marched against the latter two, and during the abortive siege of Aquileia his troops deserted and murdered him.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
His consistent portrayal as a man with a prominent brow, nose, and jaw, made some researchers to suspect that he may have suffered from some form of acromegaly. I find it interesting when a connection is made between ancient portraiture and known medical conditions--perhaps there's some truth behind Maximus' rather exaggerated features? If he did have acromegaly, his appearance was probably just as imposing as the historian's accounts. Probably most of you know of Richard Kiel, who has acromegaly. Imagine a guy like that standing out in a Roman centuria.   Edited by DVCollector
04/12/2012 2:35 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4253 Posts |
Quote:
Richard Kiel big dude, but not very athletic or even coordinated, but I would suppose he would stand out in a legion. |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
That might explain that chin and his enormous size.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10045 Posts |
Quote:
big dude, but not very athletic or even coordinated JW, you're right of course--does anyone have a better example? In the day of spears and swords, I would think a longer reach would be a big advantage.  |
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
He was good as "Jaws" in the James Bond movies ...  Thanks for your awesome comments, gang
=> man, there always seems to be some sort of cool dirt on each one of these emperors!! (amazing)
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
MAXIMINUS I => The Thracian Giant
... maybe Andre The Giant is a relative?
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Replies: 436 / Views: 33,055 |
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Posted 04/10/2012 5:11 pm
