Provincial bronze issue of Gordian III (AD 238–244), struck at Viminacium in Moesia Superior in AD 243/244 (year V of the local era), belongs to the well-defined civic series of this colony, one of the most precisely dated provincial coinages of the 3rd century AD.
The obverse shows a laureate and draped bust of the emperor facing right, with the legend IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, presenting his full titulature together with the honorifics Pius and Felix.
The reverse depicts the personification of Moesia standing left, accompanied by a bull on the left and a lion on the right, with the legend P M S COL VIM and the date AN V in the exergue. The inscription expands to Provincia Moesia Superior Colonia Viminacium, directly referring to the city’s status as a Roman colony and administrative center.
The bull and lion are interpreted as legionary symbols, associated respectively with Legio VII Claudia (bull) and Legio IV Flavia Felix (lion), a connection supported by epigraphic and archaeological evidence from Viminacium. This type follows the established iconographic scheme of the Viminacium series, issued annually with regnal year marks (AN I–AN XVI).
Roman Provincial
Moesia Superior, Viminacium, Gordian III (238-244), AE 243/244
Obverse: laureate bust right
IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG
Reverse: Moesia standing left, at left bull, at right lion, AN V in exergue
P M S COL VIM
Diameter 29 mm, weight 16.53 g
