Tranquillina, Augusta, 241-244. Antoninianus (Silver, 23 mm, 5.00 g, 7 h), Rome, 241. SABINIA TRANQVILLINA AVG Diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina set to right on crescent. Rev. CONCORDIA AVGG Gordian III, on the left, laureate and togate, standing right, holding roll in his left hand and clasping his right hand with Tranquillina, on the right, draped, diademed and veiled, standing left, holding her left hand at side. Cohen 4. Michaux 793. RIC 250. Very rare. A beautiful piece, lustrous and struck on a very broad flan. Light porosity and with minor deposits and a small die break on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.


Tranquillina was the daughter of Gaius Julius Timesitheus, an eques who had a successful career under the Severans and Maximinus before he finally became the Praetorian Prefect of the juvenile Gordian III in 241. As the de facto-ruler of the empire, he had his daughter married to the emperor and acted as the protector of the imperial couple. Timesitheus appears to have been an effective administrator and general, but he eventually died under suspicious circumstances after defeating a Sasanian army in 243. His successor was Marcus Julius Philippus, who assumed the throne a few months later after Gordian III had also conveniently died afield. Whatever the role of Philip in these suspicious events, Tranquillina herself consequently disappeared from all sources without a trace.