From the Gemini IV Auction, Closed January 8, 2008.



                  Lot # 459 - Auction is closed.Estimate: US$300 / Price 
                  Realized: US$240 
                  Gordian III, Lot of 3 muled antoniniani. 3 silver antoniniani; 
                  weights 4.57, 4.42 and 4.23 gm respectively 



             
             
             



            Gordian III, Lot of 3 muled antoniniani. (238-244 AD). 3 silver 
            antoniniani; weights 4.57, 4.42 and 4.23 gm respectivelyRome, 
            239-240 AD. The first coin, with reverse PAX AVGVSTI, Pax standing 
            left, of 238 AD, should have shown Gordian’s earliest obverse 
            legend, but this reverse die survived at least until the end of 239, 
            when it was erroneously coupled with his third obverse legend, IMP 
            GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG. Both dies are well worn, suggesting as 
            another possibility that they were perhaps official dies stolen from 
            the mint and reused by an ancient counterfeiter. Our coin was 
            misattributed to Antioch by George His and the Triton V cataloguer. 
            This is apparently the only specimen of this mule known today; Cohen 
            178, repeated by RIC 215, could only cite a specimen in a French 
            private collection, whose present whereabouts are unknown. This coin 
            missing in the Dorchester and Eauze hoards, and represented in Berk 
            photofile and CoinArchives only by this exact specimen. The reverse 
            legend of the second coin, CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia seated left, was 
            supposed to change to CONCORDIA MILIT when FEL was added to 
            Gordian’s obverse legend late in 239. The old reverse die of our 
            coin, however, was not immediately retired, so survived to be used 
            with the new obverse legend, IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG. RIC 64 
            (R2); Cohen 52 (Paris). Rare: only two specimens in Dorchester 
            hoard. The third coin has the new reverse legend, CONCORDIA MILIT, 
            Concordia seated left, so should have shown Gordian’s third obverse 
            legend, IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG. Instead it has Gordian’s first 
            obverse legend, IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, without either PIVS or 
            FEL, apparently struck from an old obverse die of 238 or early 239 
            which had managed to remain in use. RIC 49 (R, citing a base 
            specimen in BM); not in Cohen. This coin missing in the Dorchester 
            and Eauze hoards, and represented in Berk photofile and CoinArchives 
            only by this exact specimen. THREE COINS IN LOT. Very fine. 

            All three coins ex Triton V, 2002, George His Collection, from the 
            two group lots 2061 and 2062. The first coin also ex Munzzentrum 
            Koln, 7 November 1989, lot 575; the third ex Schulten, 11 April 
            1988, lot 729. 




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  ... Lot 459 sold for high bid of $240 [ $276, or approx 190.44 EUR, 140.76 GBP including the 15% buyers fee.] 

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