RSC340   Obv: Laureate draped bust right “IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG” Rev: Securitas seated left holding sceptre. “SECVRITAS PVBLICA”.  Gordian III was the grandson and nephew of Gordian I and Gordian II, respectively, both very short lived emperors from the province of Africa. After their deaths and the deaths of two other contenders for the throne, Balbinus and Pupienus, Gordian was selected emperor at the tender age of 13 by the Roman elite. In 241 Gordian was married to Furia Sabinia Tranquillina, the daughter of the Prefect of the Praetorian Guards, Timesitheus. Needless to say, Timesitheus soon became the de facto ruler of the Roman empire.  In 243 the young emperor led his armies to push back the Sasanians and had an important victory at the battle of  Resaena. Unfortunately, shortly after the battle, Gordian’s father-in-law suddenly fell ill and died.  In his place stepped two eager replacements Gaius Julius Priscus and his brother Marcus Julius Philippus. At this point history gets a little muddled. It appears that the Roman army, while marching on the Sassanian capital of Ctesiphon, were ambushed and defeated. During the battle, the young Gordian III fell off his horse and died and Philippus, known as Philip the Arab, declared emperor in his stead.  Problem free coin, trace of lustre. Scarce as a denarius nice portrait. NEF