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|
H
IGHLY
D
ESIRABLE
D
ENARIUS OF
C
ALIGULA
AND
G
ERMANICUS
Enlargement
1971
Gaius Caligula, with Germanicus. Silver Denarius (3.54 g), AD 37-41.
. Lugdunum, AD 37/8. C CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR POT, lau-
reate 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.
Among the finest examples to exist.
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-Clau-
dian dynasty, he also became one of Rome' s most successful and beloved generals, having avenged Varus' defeat at the Battle of the Teuto-
burg 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 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 murdered before he could implicate the emperor in Germanicus' death).
Estimated Value ................................................................................................................................................................... $30,000-UP
Ex The Millennia Collection (Goldberg 46, 26 May 2008), 84; NAC 25 (25 June 2003), 362.; Ex Exceptional Roman Denarii Coll. #3040
.
1972
Gaius Caligula. Æ As (12.40 g), AD 37-41
. Rome, AD 40/1.
C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG P M TR P IIII P P, bare head of
Gaius Caligula left.
Reverse:
VESTA, S C across field, Vesta
seated left, holding patera and scepter. RIC 54; BMC 72; BN
121. Lovely reddish brown patina. Well struck, well centered,
and with full legends.
Choice Very Fine
.
Estimated Value ..............................................$1,200 - 1,500
Tom Peterson collection; Private purchase from Tom Cederline
.
R
ARE
B
RONZE OF
B
RITANNICUS
,
SON OF
C
LAUDIUS
,
MINTED
AD 50-54
Enlargement
1973
Britannicus, son of Claudius. AE 17 (3.5g), minted at Smyrna, AD 50-54
. Draped bare head facing right.
Reverse:
Nike, right with
trophy over shoulder. BMC 283; RPC (Nero Caesar) 2476. Very Rare. Uniform dark greenish-brown patina.
Very Fine
.
Estimated Value .....................................................................................................................................................................$400 - 500