Viminacium in Moesia Superior, 242-243 AD., Gordian III., Sestertius, Martin 1' 38' 1.

Viminacium in Moesia Superior, Gordian III., 242-243 AD.,
Sestertius / Æ30 (28-30 mm / 19.58 g),
Obv.: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG , laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian right, seen from behind.
Rev.: PMS COL VIM / A N IIII (year 4 of the era of Viminacium = 242/243 AD.), draped female figure (Moesia) standing facing, head left, holding standard in each hand, bull left, lion right; the left standard inscribed VII, (Legio VII, Claudia) and the right inscribed IIII (Legio IIII, Flavia).
Martin 1' 38' 1 ; Pick (AMNG) 85 ; Moushmov 31 ; Borick-Breskovic 399 ; SNG Budapest 225-226 .

A rare legionary issue. Both the 4th and 7th Legion were stationed in Moesia. The usual type shows Moesia standing with only the bull (the 7th Legion's symbol) and the lion (the 4th Legion's symbol). On a few rare examples, as this piece, Moesia is depicted holding standards inscribed VII and IIII.

VIMINACIUM (today Kostolac near Pozarevac in Yugoslavia) was first the camp of the legion VII. CLAUDIA from the 1.st century a.d.. At the beggining of the reign of Hadrian it probably received the status of muncipium and in the middle of the 2nd century (possible even earlier) it became the center of the governor of the province Moesia Superior. At the beginning of the reign of Gordian III. it became a colony and it seems that with this rank it was given the right to strike copper coins.

P (rovincia) M (oesia) S (uperior) COL (onia) VIM (inacium) started to issue bronze coins with Gordian III. in 239 or 240 and it lasted until the reign of Gallienus (and Valerianus I) in 254/255 A.D. (AN XVI). The standard representation on reverse is a female figure which is usually identified as standing Moesia or town Viminacium. At her right foot there is a bull (symbol of VII legion Claudia), and on her left there is a lion (symbol of IIII legion Flavia, that was situated in Singidinum, today Belgrade).