Tetrassarion - Gordian III and Tranquillina

Tomis, the Black Sea port on the western Pontic coast, was one of the more prolific provincial minting centers under Gordian III, producing a notably wide range of denominations and reverse types across his short reign. The pairing of Gordian with his wife Tranquillina on the obverse is a deliberate dynastic statement — Tranquillina was the daughter of Timesitheus, the praetorian prefect who effectively ran the empire during Gordian's early years and orchestrated the marriage in 241 AD to consolidate his own position.

Gordian died on campaign against Shapur I in 244, aged around nineteen. Issues bearing the imperial couple ceased abruptly with his death.