Coin Roman Empire Gordien III - Antoninianus, Laetitia - 240 / 243 Rome

Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG

Reverse: LAETITIA AVG N

The reverse depicts Laetitia, the personification of Joy, standing, facing left, holding a wreath in her right hand and an anchor in her left hand. The anchor, an unusual attribute of Laetitia, symbolizes stability and hope, while the wreath evokes victory and imperial prosperity.

Gordian III, proclaimed emperor in 238 at the age of approximately thirteen, initially reigned under the guardianship of his father-in-law and praetorian prefect Timesitheus. This period corresponds to a relative stabilization following the crisis of 238, marked by the rapid succession of several emperors. The Empire was then facing increasing pressure on its borders, particularly with the rise of the Sasanian Empire in the East. The monetary propaganda of this era deliberately emphasized themes of joy, prosperity, and stability, seeking to reassure a population worn down by recent political turmoil. Gordian III died in 244, most likely during the campaign against the Sasanians, under circumstances that remain debated by historians, with some ancient sources suggesting the involvement of his successor, Philip the Arab.