To My Family and Uğraş Uzun - Bilkent University
To My Family and Uğraş Uzun - Bilkent University
To My Family and Uğraş Uzun - Bilkent University
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the 3 rd century, like jewellery, <strong>and</strong> were no longer used as circulating currency<br />
(Bl<strong>and</strong>, 1996: 65). Their presence in the Antakya Sarcophagus with other gold<br />
objects testifies to their “special” nature, this time as prestigious funeral<br />
offerings.<br />
The coin of Gordian III has a draped <strong>and</strong> laureate right-facing bust of the<br />
emperor with the legend “IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG” on the obverse.<br />
The reverse of the coin has the figure of Laetitia, turned to her right, holding an<br />
anchor in her right h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> a wreath in her left. The legend on this side is:<br />
“LAETITIA AVG N”. The coin weighs about 4.59 gr. <strong>and</strong> has a diameter of 21<br />
mm.<br />
During Gordian’s reign, the aureus minted at Rome was struck 25%<br />
lighter than the issues during the reign of Severus Alex<strong>and</strong>er (Carson, 1990: 79).<br />
The obverse legend “IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG” replaced other<br />
legends in mid-240 <strong>and</strong> was used until Gordian’s death in 244 (Carson, 1990: 79;<br />
Baydur, 1998: 73). This specific aureus is paralled by coins minted at Rome<br />
between January 241 <strong>and</strong> the end of July 241, with the reverse legend<br />
“LAETITIA AVG N” (Carson, 1990: 80).<br />
The second coin, that of Gallienus, has the radiate right-facing cuirassed<br />
bust of Gallienus on the obverse, with the legend “GALLIENVS AVG”. The<br />
reverse has the figure of Liberalitas, turned to her right, holding a cornucopia in<br />
her right h<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> a tessera in her left. The legend above reads: “LIBERAL<br />
AVG”. The coin weighs 4.59 gr. <strong>and</strong> has a diameter of 22 mm. The radiate crown<br />
of the emperor indicates a double denomination for coins, <strong>and</strong> this aureus<br />
therefore has a double value compared to that of Gordian’s, even though their<br />
weights are the same (Jones, 1990: 30).<br />
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