PROVIDENTIA AVGG

Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian II Africanus to the right, seen from three quarters back.

Providentia standing left with her legs crossed, leaning on a column with her left arm. Holding a cornucopia with the left hand and a wand with the right hand. At her feet, a globe.

Photo of a coin sold the 05/07/2015 by Numismatik Naumann, Auction 33, lot 562,link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2560588, link to their website: http://www.numismatik-naumann.at/.

This obverse legend IMP CAES M ANT GORDIA AFR AVG was first referenced by Numismatik Naumann. I shown the coin to Mr Curtis Clay which links it to a sestertius of the same legend (see Gordian I AYC #7, RIC - ). I quote Mr Curtis Clay during our discussion about the sestertius of same legend: ''the variant obv. legend on the Gorny & Mosch sestertius must be original, because the same legend also occurs on a very convincing denarius not sestertius, of Gordian II not Gordian I, with different rev.type PROVIDENTIA AVGG, in the collection of... 
In my opinion our conclusion can only be, that the first obv. legend of Gordian I and II, used very briefly on all three denominations at the mint of Rome, was IMP CAES M ANT GORDIA AFR AVG. From this issue only the Genius of the Senate sestertius of Gordian I and the Providentia denarius of Gordian II are so far known, but other sestertius and denarius types, and possibly even aureus types, may be expected for both emperors. Very soon, however, the mint switched to the two obv. legends which until recently were the only ones known, IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AFR AVG on aurei and sestertii of both emperors, and the same legend without CAES on the denarii of both emperors.''.

Gordian I and II share the same obverse legend, the bust of Gordian II is distinguished by absence of hairs in front of his laurel wreath.