MOESIA INFERIOR. Marcianopolis. Gordian III, 238-244. Pentassarion (Bronze, 28 mm, 14.29 g, 12 h), Tullius Menophilus, legatus Augusti pro praetore, circa 238-241. AYT K M / ANTⲰNIOC ΓOPΔIANOC AYΓ Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III, on the left, facing draped bust of Serapis, wearing kalathos, on the right. Rev. YΠ MHNOΦIΛOY MAPKIANOΠOΛITΩN Bird's-eye view of the polygonal city wall of Markianopolis with thirteen towers and battlements; inside the wall a four-columned temple with cult image, flanked by two porticoes, in front of it a burning altar; in the foreground an open city gate; within gate arch, E (mark of value). AMNG I -. Hristova/Jekov -, cf. 6.37.46.8-9 (differing obverse legend). RPC VII.2 online 1355. Varbanov -, cf. 1970-2 (differing obverse legend). Very rare. A beautiful example of this unusual issue with an exceptionally detailed view of the city on the reverse. Some areas of weakness, otherwise, extremely fine.

Marcianopolis was founded by Trajan after the Second Dacian War, in honor of his beloved older sister Marciana, and named after her. The magnificent reverse design on this coin, featuring the impressive city walls of Marcianopolis surrounding a four-column temple, highlights the city's defensiveness, as it was located near the vulnerable Danube frontier