Gordian III Denarius Ancient Roman Empire Silver Coin 241AD RIC 129

Obverse: IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG, Bust of Gordian III, laureate, draped, cuirassed, right
Reverse: PIETAS AVGVSTI, Pietas, veiled, draped, standing front, head left, raising both hands above her head
Date: 241 A.D.
ID: RIC IV Gordian III 129
Size: 20mm diameter, 3.18g weight
Composition: Silver

Pietas was the Roman goddess/personification of religious piety.

Gordian III became emperor at the age of 13, after the death of his grandfather Gordian I and the subsequent overthrow of Emperor Maximinus Thrax. As a teenage emperor, his reign was marked by the influence of his advisors, and it is unlikely he had much agency himself. 

During his rule, Gordian III faced military conflicts along the empire's frontiers. He successfully repelled several attacks by the Sassanian Persians, and he also dealt with raids by Germanic tribes along the Danube frontier. Gordian III was popular among the Roman people, likely due to his youth and his relatively mild governance. His reign saw efforts to restore stability and improve the financial state of the empire. 

But he faced challenges from within the imperial court, particularly from his Praetorian Prefect Philip the Arab. In 244 AD, Gordian III died under mysterious circumstances while leading an army against the Persians, possibly as a result of a conspiracy involving Philip. Philip then became the next Roman emperor.