About the face value of the coin
On this coin we see the denomination value as the letter Δ, placed in the field right to the goddess Tyche. Letter Δ being the fourth of the alphabet, the coin is worth 4, so it is a four assaria coin. Denomination assarion / assaria was used for the name of bronze coins issued by several towns on the western and northern border of the Black Sea (Tomis, Callatis, Chersones, Tyras, Olbia and plenty more). Here at Tomis were struck coins of 1 assarion, 2, 3, 4 and 5 assaria, bearing as digits Α, Β, Γ, Δ and Ε. It seems like intermediate values were also issued.
It has to be noticed that denomination values appear on very few ancient coins. Consequently, a common metal coin is usually reffered to by letters AE (AE standing for Latin aes, generic term used for copper based alloys) followed by the diameter. Therefore this coin is an AE 26, but also a 4 assaria.
It is difficult to evaluate how much was such a coin worth. An assarion was worth 1/12 of a silver drachma, that is a hemiobolus. A drachma being worth three quarters of a denarius, it results that a Roman denarius was equal to 16 assaria, nominally at least.
About the legends on the coin
The legend MHTPO (short for MHTPOΠOΛEOC) - shows that the city was a metropolis, capital city of the Pontic City Confederation; probably a good translation for it would be Tomis, Metropolis of Pontus or maybe [coin of] Tomis, Metropolis of Pontus.
The legend accompanying the effigy of emperor Gordian III is AVT K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC AVΓ, standing for the Greek translation of latin IMP[ERATOR] C[AESAR] M[ARCUS] ANT[ONIUS] GORDIANUS AUG[USTUS]. The word imperator was translated by autocrator (autokrates in Greek meaning governing by one's self), IMP being replaced by AVT. Letter K following AVT is most probably short for Kaisar, Caesar.
About the small dimples on the coin
On the obverse as well as on the reverse some tiny dimples can be seen (also clearly visible on several provincial Roman coins present on our site). The signification of these dimples is not completely clear, the most common opinion being that they served a certain purpose during minting. So, they would be some sort of centering holes. It is generally thought that the blank used for striking was obtained by casting. The sides were cleaned of slag and various oxides with a tool that needed a hole to rotate about. Such dimples are also found on Seleucid and Ptolemaic coins.
About Greek goddess Tyche
Tyche (Fortuna for the Romans) was the goddess of the capricious and arbitrary luck. She was worshipped by urban communities, and as result she was represented bearing a mural (wall) crown. On coins her placement is sitting or standing, accompanied as atributes by the horn of plenty, the wheel - as symbol of unsteadiness, the world globe - symbol of universality, rudder or prow (the later two being Roman originated). On this coin Tyche holds cornucopia and rudder.
About emperor Gordian III
Gordianus III - Marcus Antonius Gordianus (225 - 244) was emperor between 238 and 244.
The uprising in 238 against Maximinus Thrax brought Gordian I and his son Gordian II as emperors. The governor of Numidia, Capellianus, with Legion III Augusta, terminated the two Gordiani, Pupienus and Balbinus becoming emperors and being proclaimed Augusti, and Gordian III, grandson of Gordian I, becoming Caesar. In July 238 Gordianus III is proclaimed Augustus, as result of the assassination of the other two Augusti.
He got married to Furia Sabina Tranquillina, also herself appearing on Pontic coins.
In 244 Gordian III is killed by the praetor's prefect, Philip the Arabian, the later taking his place as emperor.