Gordien Ier l’Africain (238)
Denier - Rome (Avril 238).
Très rare et magnifique exemplaire.
2.74g - C. 2 - BMC 1 - RIC 1
Superbe - AU

Maximinus I was despised as a barbarian by the Roman upper classes, but hated by all because of the heavy taxes he raised in order to fight the Germans and the Sarmatians. Landowners in Africa initiated a revolt, starting with the slaying of a corrupt treasury official who was extorting even more money from them, and then proclaiming the proconsular governor of Africa Proconsularis and his son as co-emperors. The Senate in Rome followed them, and proclaimed Gordian I and Gordian II. But the governor of Numidia marched on Carthage with the Legio III Augusta and defeated Gordian II who was killed in the battle, after which Gordian I hanged himself: their reign had only lasted three weeks, from 22 March to 12 April AD 238. It has been hypothesized that the revolt had been long planned, with coins struck in advance in order to have ready-money to make donatives immediately after the emperors’ proclamation.