Archaeological Museum of Bologna

Museo Civico Archeologico
Via dell'Archiginnasio 2 - 40124 Bologna
Tel. 051.27.57.211

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Via de' Musei 8 – 40124 Bologna
Tel. 051.27.57.211 - Fax 051.26.65.16
mca@comune.bologna.it

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Collections / Ricerca / Numismatic Collection: Roman coins

Bronze medallion of Gordianus III

The legend on the reverse is MVNIFICENTIA GORDIANI AVG and suggests Gordianus' generosity in setting up spectacles, which is underlined by the image of the Amphitheatrum Flavium (Colosseum). On the obverse the bust of the emperor, with legends Pivs and Felix.

More info

We can see three orders of arches and the attic, from which comes out the velarium. On the left the Meta sudans and Helios or Fortuna statue, while a gladiator school is on the right. In centre of the amphithetarum there are two rows of people, and the fight between an elephant, ruled by a bestiarius, and a bull.

Provenance: University Collection
Datation: 241/242 - 244 AD
Material: bronze
Dimensions: diam mm 40; gr 52,84
Inventory #: 22653

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