Tranquillina, Augusta, 241-244. Antoninianus (Silver, 24 mm, 4.90 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 lightly toned and most attractive example, well struck on a broad flan and with a magnificent portrait. About extremely fine.



Tranquillina was the daughter of Gaius Julius Timesitheus, an eques who rose to become praetorian prefect and, in effect, the chief power behind the youthful Gordian III in 241. After marrying his daughter to the emperor, he acted as protector of the imperial couple and proved an able administrator and general, before dying under suspicious circumstances in 243 after a victory over the Sasanians. His successor, Marcus Julius Philippus, became emperor soon after Gordian III also died on campaign, in circumstances that remain unclear, while Tranquillina herself vanished from the sources without a trace.

Given the abundance of Gordian’s silver coinage and Tranquillina’s substantial provincial issues, the rarity of her imperial antoniniani and denarii is striking. Although the reason remains unknown, there must have been good cause not to emphasize her role more strongly at a time when empresses were normally integral to the self-representation of the imperial domus.