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Gordian I
Gordian I, Africanus, 238 A.D. AR Denarius, 3.05g. 20mm. IMP M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Gordian to right. Rev. P M TR P COS P P. Emperor standing to left holding branch and parazonium. BMC 1. RIC 1. Ex: Numismatic Fine Arts, Beverly Hillis, Auction XX, lot 334, 03/09/1988. Ex: Superior, Los Angeles, Auction, lot 911, 08/13/1995. Ex. Edward J. Waddell, inv. 56376, 4/17/2023.
Gordian I, a Roman emperor who ruled briefly in 238 CE, played a pivotal role during the Year of the Six Emperors, a turbulent period in Roman history marked by political chaos and rapid changes in leadership. Born around 159 CE into a wealthy senatorial family, Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus, as he was formally known, had a distinguished career as a public official and military commander before his brief stint as emperor.
Gordian I's rise to power was spurred by widespread dissatisfaction with the rule of Emperor Maximinus Thrax, whose harsh policies alienated the Senate and many provincial elites. At the age of 80, Gordian reluctantly accepted the imperial title after a revolt in the African province, where he was serving as proconsul. His son, Gordian II, was declared co-emperor, marking a rare father-son joint rule.
Despite his advanced age, Gordian I was celebrated as a symbol of senatorial dignity and resistance against Maximinus. His reign, however, was fleeting. Support for his cause spread rapidly in some provinces, but his position in Africa was precarious. The loyalist governor of Numidia, Capelianus, led an army against Gordian II, who was killed in battle. Overwhelmed by grief and recognizing the futility of his position, Gordian I reportedly took his own life after only 22 days as emperor.
Gordian I's brief rule was significant for its symbolic defiance against a tyrannical regime. His death paved the way for further political turmoil, but it also united the Senate and other elites in opposition to Maximinus. While his time as emperor was short-lived, Gordian I’s legacy endured as a catalyst for change during one of Rome’s most tumultuous periods.
Coins of Gordian I are not rare but for some reason they are expensive. There is basically one portrait style which is quite nice. The problem with most Gordian coinage is the quality of the metal and the resulting rough surfaces. This denarius was struck on good metal and is a superior example with nearly flawless surfaces. The obverse strike is exceptionally crisp. By contrast, the reverse by is weak which is typical of coinage of this era.