MOESIA INFERIOR. Odessus. Gordian III, 238-244. Pentassarion (Orichalcum, 29 mm, 12.88 g, 12 h). AYT•M•ANT•ΓOPΔIANOC / AYΓ Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III, on the left, facing draped bust of the Great God, on the right, wearing kalathos and with cornucopiae on his left shoulder. Rev. OΔHCCEITΩN Agonistic prize crown containing two palms and inscribed ΔΑΡΖΑΛΕΙΑ; in exergue, E (mark of value). AMNG I 2372. RPC VII.2 online 1499. Varbanov 4529. An attractive example with a particularly well struck reverse. Thin flan crack and with very minor areas of weakness, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.



The inscription ΔΑΡΖΑΛΕΙΑ on the prize urn depicted on the reverse of this coin refers to games held in honor of Darzalas (or Derzelas), a local Thracian deity who was syncretized in Odessos with aspects of Hellenistic gods such as Pluto/Hades and Serapis. He was venerated as a god of the underworld, wealth, and fertility.