Tranquillina, Augusta, 241-244. Antoninianus (Silver, 23 mm, 4.89 g, 8 h), Rome, 241. SABINIA TRANQVILLINA AVG Diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina set on crescent to right. Rev. CONCORDIA AVGG Gordian III, on the left and standing right, and Tranquillina, on the right and standing left, clasping their right hands together. Cohen 4. RIC 250. Very rare. A lightly toned and most attractive example, well struck on a broad flan and with a magnificent portrait. About extremely fine.


Tranquillina was the daughter of Gaius Julius Timesitheus, an eques who had a sucessful career under the Severans and Maximinus before he finally became the Praetorian Prefect of the juvenile Gordian III in 241. As the de facto-ruler of the empire, he had his daughter married to the emperor and acted as the protector of the imperial couple. Timesitheus appears to have been an effective administrator and general, but he eventually died under suspicious circumstances after defeating a Sasanian army in 243. His successor was Marcus Julius Philippus, who assumed the throne few months later after Gordian III had also conveniently died afield. Whatever the role of Philip in these suspicious events, Tranquillina herself consequently disappeared from all sources without a trace.