Gordian III Sestertius “laetitia” — Certificate Of Authenticity

A bronze sestertius of Gordian III, struck at Rome within the chronological window commonly retained as AD 241–243, a specimen whose collecting interest lies in the very legible pairing of a complete imperial obverse — IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG — and a particularly “speaking” reverse, LAETITIA AVG N, where Laetitia stands left, holding a wreath in the right hand and an anchor set on the ground in the left hand, with S – C placed in the field in accordance with the usage of senatorial bronzes; a typological combination firmly documented and directly verifiable in the corpora and major public collections under RIC 300a / Cohen 122.

Careful observation under ×10 magnification and raking light: examination reveals a broad sestertius flan, with relief still structured on the decisive elements, and an old patina predominantly brown, locally enlivened by discreet green nuances; the obverse preserves comfortable readability of the laureate, draped, and cuirassed portrait (laurel wreath, facial volumes, clearly articulated shoulder drapery), and the reverse allows unambiguous iconographic recognition of Laetitia’s silhouette, the forward offering of the wreath, and the characteristic presence of the anchor—an attribute of stability—whose shaft and curvature remain perceptible, sufficient to anchor identification in observable, typologically concordant markers.

Authority / period: Gordian III (AD 238–244), large circulating imperial bronze, with reign titulature consistent with Rome-mint usage of the period.

Mint / type dating: Rome, issue given for AD 241–243, a range repeatedly cited in collection notices and market comparanda for this specific Laetitia type.

Denomination / metal: Sestertius, bronze (Æ), with S – C on the reverse, the senatorial mark typical of Roman bronzes.

Weight / diameter: 20.02 g; 30 mm (specimen data), consistent with the parameters observed for sestertii of this type.

Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, standard typology for the issue.

Reverse: LAETITIA AVG N, Laetitia standing left, holding wreath and anchor, with S – C in the field, reading and placement consistent with the reference works.

References: RIC 300a; Cohen 122, attribution and typological concordances frequently cited for this combination of legends and attributes.

The choice of Laetitia belongs to the monetary language of Gordian III’s years in which, amid a politically demanding 3rd century, the Rome mint disseminates a message of confidence and continuity: the wreath figures the promised public gladness, while the anchor—symbol of stability, safety, and assurance—visually translates a will to anchor government in constancy; the formula LAETITIA AVG N, explained in notices as Laetitia Augusti Nostri, reinforces this reading by linking it directly to the imperial person.

For the collector, this sestertius offers very secure cabinet value, because it combines the large module of Roman bronze—appreciated for its material presence—with an immediately intelligible reverse, where the allegory, through simple and powerful attributes, reads “at a glance,” making it a natural milestone for a Gordian III collection, a thematic series on personifications (Laetitia, Felicitas, Securitas), or an ensemble devoted to political messages carried by senatorial bronze.

The provenance is European, from an established numismatic dealer, and the acquisition derives from a specialized international transaction conducted within a recognized numismatic network according to high standards of the art and heritage market; the attribution is founded on the verifiable concordance of the legends IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG / LAETITIA AVG N and the attributes (wreath + anchor, S – C) with the references RIC 300a / Cohen 122, as repeated in collection databases and published comparanda.
Each specimen is examined, described, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity consistent with the standards of the art and heritage market, so that the buyer has at their disposal a clear, traceable documentary framework aligned with professional practice.