Antiocheia (AD 238-244) AE 34 - Gordian III

Gordian III, 238-244 AD. AE34 (25.23g). IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANOVS AVG, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian right / VIBI AVG COL ANTIOCH, Gordian on horseback trampling down and spearing enemy, SR in exergue.

On this series of coins, we see Gordian in a pompous privileged manner, most often hunting animals. A rare series show either one or two enemies lying on the ground already vanquished and dead. This rare example shows the enemy in the act of falling to the ground and death. The horse rears up to trample and Gordian has his spear at the ready to finish the job. The scene reminds one of the Fel Temp Reparatio series issued about 100 years later.