Æ29 - Gordian III ϹΑΜΙΩΝ

Samos had been producing civic bronze coinage under Roman oversight for generations by Gordian's reign, but the island's issues under this emperor are notable for their variety — the Samian mint produced an unusually wide range of types relative to its size, suggesting active local initiative in design selection rather than simple compliance with provincial templates. The reference VII.1#591.5 places this piece within a well-documented but sparsely surviving series; die studies have shown many Samian bronzes of this period exist in very small numbers of known specimens.