Gordian III — Antoninianus, MARTEM PROPVGNATOREM, Rome

Struck at Rome, AD 243–244, in the final months of Gordian III's reign, as the young emperor's armies were engaged against the Sasanian king Shapur I in Mesopotamia. Raised to the purple at thirteen after the chaos of 238, Gordian did not live to see the campaign's end — he died on the Persian frontier early in 244.

MARTEM PROPVGNATOREM — an invocation of "Mars the Defender." The war god strides right in full armour, helmeted, a transverse spear in his right hand and a shield on his left arm: a fitting appeal to Rome's protector at the height of the Persian war.

Attribution: RIC IV Gordian III 147

Mint: Rome

Catalogued in the NumisLens cabinet — NL-GGBA7-G1JCV.