113
3116
Gaius Caligula, with Germanicus. Silver Denarius (3.54 g), AD 37-41.
Lugdunum, AD 37/8. C CAESAR AVG GERM P MTR POT, laureate head
of Gaius right.
Reverse:
GERMANICVS CAES P C CAES AVG GERM,
bare head of Germanicus right. RIC 18; Giard 172; BMC 19; RSC 2. Well
struck and perfectly centered with all letters complete. Delicate antique
toning.
Extremely Fine.
Germanicus was the son of Nero Claudius Drusus and Antonia, the
daughter of Mark Antony, and was born in 15 BC. A scion of the Julio-
Claudian dynasty, he also became one of Rome’s most successful and
beloved generals, having avenged Varus’ defeat at the Battle of the
Teutoburg Forest, retrieving two of the three lost standards and inflicting
heavy defeats against Arminius, the protagonist in Varus campaign. He
was not as successful in the field of politics, however, having inadver-
tently usurped the imperial prerogative on more than one occasion.
The most egregious instance was his ordering the recall of the gover-
nor of Syria, Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, for having canceled some of the
arrangements for the settlement of Cappadocia and Commagene
that Germanicus had ordered. Shortly after this episode, Germanicus
fell severely ill and died at Antioch. Suspicion immediately fell on Piso,
and it was thought that he had poisoned Germanicus at the instigation
of Tiberius who was suspicious of Germanicus’ popularity. The truth was
never discovered, however, as Piso reportedly took his own life during
the course of his trial (Tacitus believed Tiberius may have had him mur-
dered before he could implicate the emperor in Germanicus’ death).
Estimated Value................................................................. $20,000 - 25,000
Ex The Millennia Collection (Goldberg 46, 26 May 2008), 84; NAC 25 (25
June 2003), 362.
