Gordian I, AE sestertius, 19.18 g.

IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG, laureate, draped and 
cuirassed bust right.
VIRTVS AVGG, Virtus standing left, holding spear and 
resting right arm on shield.
S-C across fields.

RIC 14; BMCRE 17; Cohen 15; Sear 8454.

The AVGG on the reverse legend tells us that there 
were two rulers at the time, Gordian I and II. The lower 
hairline and less long face identifies this as a coin of 
Gordian I.

With permission of Paul-Francis Jacquier, Sept. 2012