Roman Silver Denarius of Gordian III (AD 238-244) NGC (VF) G

Gordian III (Latin: Marcus Antonius Gordianus; 20 January 225 – c. February 244) was Roman emperor from 238 to 244. At the age of 13, he became the youngest sole emperor of the united Roman Empire.^[6][b] Gordian was the son of Antonia Gordiana^[7] and Junius Balbus, who died before 238.^[8] Antonia Gordiana was the daughter of Emperor Gordian I and sister of Emperor Gordian II.^[7] Very little is known of his early life before his acclamation.

In 235, following the murder of Emperor Alexander Severus in Moguntiacum (modern Mainz),^[9] the capital of the Roman province Germania Superior, Maximinus Thrax was acclaimed emperor.^[10] In the following years, there was a growing opposition against Maximinus in the Roman Senate and amongst the majority of the population of Rome. In 238, a rebellion broke out in the Africa Province, where Gordian's grandfather and uncle, Gordian I and II, were proclaimed joint emperors.^[11] This revolt was suppressed within a month by Cappellianus, governor of Numidia and a loyal supporter of Maximinus Thrax.^[11]