Æ31 - Gordian III ΤΡΑΛΛΙΑΝΩΝ ΕΠΙ ΓΡ Μ ΑΥΡ ΚΡΙΤΙΟΥ

Tralles was one of the wealthiest cities in the conventus of Ephesus, and its civic bronze issues under Gordian III frequently name the presiding magistrate — here M. Aur. Kritios, whose tenure is otherwise unattested outside the coin record itself. Provincial bronzes of this region were struck entirely on civic initiative, not imperial command, meaning the local boule effectively decided when and how much to mint. Gordian's youth — he was thirteen at accession — made him a politically convenient figurehead for cities keen to demonstrate loyalty without attracting scrutiny from Rome.