Highly Desirable Denarius of Caligula and Germanicus
526
Gaius Caligula (AD 37-41), with Germanicus, Silver Denarius, 3.54g. Mint of Lugdunum, AD 37/8.
C CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR POT
, laureate head of Gaius facing right. Rev.
GERMANICVS CAES P C
CAES AVG GERM
, bare head of Germanicus facing right (RIC 18; Giard 172; BMC 19; RSC 2). Well struck
and perfectly centred with all letters complete, delicate antique toning, extremely fine.
$ 20,000
ex NAC Auction 25, 25 June 2003, lot 362
ex The Millennia Collection, Goldberg Auction 46, 26 May 2008, lot 84
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 inadvertently usurped the imperial
prerogative on more than one occasion. The most egregious instance was his ordering the recall of the governor of Syria, Gnaeus
Calpurnius Piso, for having cancelled 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 murdered before he could implicate the emperor in Germanicus’ death).
527
Caligula (AD 37-41), Æ As, 11.00g, 7h. Mint of Rome, struck AD 37-38.
C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS
PON M TR POT
, bare head facing left. Rev.
VESTA, S-C
, Vesta enthroned left, holding a patera and a sceptre
(RIC 38; BMC 46; RCV 1803). Brown tone, good very fine.
$ 500
528
Claudius (AD 41-54), Æ Sestertius, 23.94g, 6h. Mint of Rome, struck AD 41-42. [
TI
]
CLAVDIVS CAESAR
AVG P M TR P IMP
, head facing right, laureate. Rev.
EX SC / O B / CIVES / SERVATOS
, within an oak-
wreath (RIC 96; BMC 115; C 39; RCV 1849). Tiber patina, light porosity to surfaces, good portrait, good
very fine.
Scarce
.
$ 750
ex Noble Numismatics, Sale 86, 21-23 November 2007, lot 3785
