AE34 of Gordian III Pisidia, Antioch

AE34 (34.21 mm, 25.27 g) Struck AD 238-244 Pisidia, Antioch

Obv: IMP CAES GORDIANOVS A Laureate draped bust right

Rev: CAES ANTIOCH COL S R She-wolf standing right suckling Romulus and Remus under a fig tree

SNG France 1210-1212
ex. Ancient Imports (Marc Breitsprecher)

That is a massive and historically fascinating Roman Provincial coin. Let’s break down exactly what you are looking at, from the powerful teenager on the front to the foundational myth of Rome on the back.

The Basics

• Who made it: Emperor Gordian III (who ruled from AD 238–244).
• Where it was made: Antioch in Pisidia (located in modern-day Turkey, not to be confused with the more famous Antioch in Syria).
• What it’s made of: It's an AE34—meaning it's a large bronze coin ("AE" is standard numismatic shorthand for bronze/copper) measuring a whopping 34mm across and weighing over 25 grams. That's a hefty piece of pocket change!

The Front (Obverse): The Boy Emperor

The Inscription: IMP CAES GORDIANOVS A

Short for: Imperator Caesar Gordianus Augustus

The portrait shows a young Gordian III facing right, wearing a laurel wreath and Roman military drapery.

The Story Behind the Portrait:

Gordian III is famous for becoming the sole Roman Emperor at just 13 years old during a chaotic period called the "Crisis of the Third Century." The Senate was desperate for stability after a bunch of previous emperors were assassinated in quick succession. While he looks quite stern and regal on this coin, it’s pure royal propaganda—in reality, his advisors and his mother were pulling all the strings behind the scenes!

The Back (Reverse): A Tale of Two Cities

The Inscription:  CAES ANTIOCH COL S R

Short for: Caesarea Antioch Colonia, Senatus Romanus (or Senatus Consulto)

The image on the back is the real showstopper. It features the famous Lupercal scene from Roman myth: the legendary she-wolf standing over and nursing the twin babies, Romulus and Remus, underneath a fig tree.

Why is Rome's origin story on a coin minted in Turkey?

This is where the coin gets really clever. Antioch in Pisidia was founded as a Colonia (a Roman colony) by Emperor Augustus. Its citizens were incredibly proud of their special status and their deep legal and cultural ties to Rome itself.

By slapping Rome’s absolute favorite founding myth onto their local currency, the city was shouting to the world: "We might be hundreds of miles away from Italy, but we are just as truly Roman as the capital city!" The S R at the end underscores this allegiance, loudly saluting the Roman Senate.

It’s a beautiful piece of ancient civic pride, minted under a teenage emperor, surviving all the way to the present day!