A Gaius "Caligula" Caesar Thread: Gaius & his three sisters Sestertius, Damnatio memoriae/ Coins you gave up on ever getting... that you got!

[Ryro]

Gauis "Caligula" Caesar:

I was very happy to win this at CNG this morning. This is a type that I've wanted since I first started collecting ancients but thought it was simply too popular and expensive for me to ever have in my collection. 

It's an incredibly popular type, in no small part thanks to a boy named Suetonius and his salacious stories about Caligula's incestuous relationships with his sisters (stories probably made up due to the uniqueness of him putting his sisters in this coin and how he publicly grieved for the death of beautiful Drusilla).

Gaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. Æ Sestertius (33.5mm, 23.85 g, 7h). Rome mint. Struck AD 37-38. Laureate head left / Gaius' three sisters standing facing: Agrippina (as Securitas) leaning on column, holding cornucopia, and placing hand on Drusilla (as Concordia), holding patera and cornucopia; on right, Julia (as Fortuna) holding rudder and cornucopia. RIC I 33. Reddish-brown and light green patina, portrait defaced in antiquity. Fine.

Some would consider this a damnatio memoriae as the defacing is from antiquity. I do. But others have varying feelings on what constitutes as being officially damned. Gauis was. And his face is gone just like Marty McFly's older brother!

I could have spent the money instead on finally getting a silver Caligula Didrachm. After all, he is the only of Sue's 12 that I don't have in AR. Yet, I have zero regrets:

Yeah, I've always had a fascination with someone like Caligula who got the power and used it much like I fear I would:

So, how could I not try to pick up coins of his when possible:

Caligula, 37-41 AD., AS Rome mint. Av. bare head left Rv. Vesta seated left, holding patera. Quality is fine to very fine with a dark green patina, weight is 9,96gr. 

Caligula (Gaius) AE AS Rome Mint 37-38 CE 27mm, 8.30 gr Obverse: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT, bare head left REVERSE: VESTA S C, Vesta enthroned left, long scepter transveres in left RIC: 38, Sear 1803, Cohen 27, BMC I 46. Note: Likely Barbarous

Gaius (Caligula) 37-41 CE. Æ Quadrans (17.5mm, 2.48g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 40. C • CAESAR • DIVI • AVG • PRON • AVG •, pileus between S C / PON • M TR • P • III • P P • COS • TERT • around R • C • C •. RIC I 45; BMCRE 61-3; BN 107-8. Choice EF, green patina, traces of earthen deposits.

Here's dad. One of the most celebrated generals in all of Roman history:

Germanicus, As (42, Rome) - Restitution of Claudius

A/ GERMANICVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N. Bare head of Germanicus right.

R/ TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM PM TR P IMP PP. Legend around a large SC.

C.9 (3f)-RCV.1905 RIC.106

Ae ; 11.31 gr ; 30 mm, Purchased from Monnaies d’Antan May 2022

 

Grandma and him:

Gaius Caligula, with Antonia, MACEDON. Thessalonica. 37-41. (Bronze, 22 mm, 9.95 g, 6 h). Γ KAIΣAP ΘEΣΣAΛONIKEΩN Laureate head of Caligula to left. Rev. ΑΝΤΩΝΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ Veiled head of Antonia II to left, wearing stephane. RPC I 1574. Brown patina. NVF. Purchased from Savoca November 2021

He had this one made in honor of his grandpa, the general whom ensured Augustus was able to rise to power upon his adoption via JC:

(this burly MFer was the one who really defeated Marc Antony)

Agrippa Æ As. Struck under Caligula, 37-41 AD. M AGRIPPA L F COS III, head left wearing rostral crown / S-C, Neptune standing facing, head left, naked except for cloak draped behind him & over both arms, holding small dolphin in right hand & vertical trident in left. Cohen 3. Former @GregH

 

 

and if you've not seen it, get to work! Just don't forget the tissue paper. It's a real jerker... tear jerker, that is:

Please post your coins of Gaius, coins that you thought you'd never own but there they are in your collection, thoughts or whatever depravity that hides in your grey matter. 

Edited January 27, 2023 by Ryro

[Prieure de Sion]

32 minutes ago, Ryro said:

Gaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. Æ Sestertius (33.5mm, 23.85 g, 7h). Rome mint. Struck AD 37-38. Laureate head left / Gaius' three sisters standing facing: Agrippina (as Securitas) leaning on column, holding cornucopia, and placing hand on Drusilla (as Concordia), holding patera and cornucopia; on right, Julia (as Fortuna) holding rudder and cornucopia. RIC I 33. Reddish-brown and light green patina, portrait defaced in antiquity. Fine.

Ah you got the coin? Very nice. I bid up to 700 USD (sorry) - but since there were two Caligula coins today at CNG, I focused on my desired coin and left the sisters alone. If there hadn't been another Caligula today at Stephen Rare, I would have bid on the three sisters.

 

 

Very nice choice of you - I can only congratulate!

 

[Prieure de Sion]

43 minutes ago, Ryro said:

It's an incredibly popular type, in no small part thanks to a boy named Suetonius and his salacious stories about Caligula's incestuous relationships with his sisters (stories probably made up due to the uniqueness of him putting his sisters in this coin and how he publicly grieved for the death of beautiful Drusilla).

Unfortunately, I still miss the REAL three sisters of Caligula. I have only a Giovanni da Cavino from the sixteenth century - so no original. You have caught a really nice and above all interesting piece. Especially historically through the "Damnatio memoriae" - that's really great.

 

Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Caligula

Paduan medal work of Giovanni da Cavino (1500-1570) XVI century; Imitating a Sestertius of the Roman Imperial Period 37/38 AD; Material: AE Bronze; Diameter: 37mm; Weight: 25.43g; Mint: Rome imitating; Reference: Imitating type RIC I (second edition) Gaius/Caligula 33, Klawans 1 (these dies); Obverse: Head of Caligula, laureate, left. The Inscription reads: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT for Caius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate (Gaius Caesar, Augustus, conqueror of the Germans, high priest, holder of tribunician power); Reverse: Three sisters of Caligula in guise of Securitas (Agrippina), Concordia (Drusilla), and Fortuna (Julia), standing side by side to front. The Inscription reads: AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA S C for Agrippina Drusilla Iulia. Senatus Consultum (Agrippina Drusilla Iulia. Decree of the senate).

 

 

 

 

[Ryro]

9 minutes ago, Prieure de Sion said:

Ah you got the coin? Very nice. I bid up to 700 USD (sorry) - but since there were two Caligula coins today at CNG, I focused on my desired coin and left the sisters alone. If there hadn't been another Caligula today at Stephen Rare, I would have bid on the three sisters.

 

 

Very nice choice of you - I can only congratulate!

 

Jk.

Thanks! Though, I'm glad there was another coin!

... do we get to see it

[CPK]

Wow! I had that coin on my watch list - no intentions of bidding - but I was curious to see what it might bring. Congratulations on a fantastic acquisition! That is really a fine piece and IMO the defacement adds a pretty cool element to the coin.

I had a couple bids on stuff but didn't win anything. Would've loved to pick up that Ex- JQA Trajan tetradrachm but it went way too high for me.

[Roman Collector]

Wow!!! 😲 Coingratulations, @Ryro, for acquiring such a historically important addition to your numophylacium!! That's been on my dream-coin list for quite a while.

I don't have many coins of Caligula. You know how it is.

But I do have two -- both provincials. This one isn't exactly "fine style," if you get my drift.

Calligula 37-41 CE.
Roman provincial Æ 28 mm, 11.17 g, 1 h.
Carthago Nova, Spain, 37-38 CE.
Obv: C. CAESAR AVG. GERMANIC. IMP. P.M. TR.P. COS., laureate head of Caligula, right.
Rev: CN. ATEL. FLAC. CN. POM. FLAC. II. VIR. Q.V.I.N.C., head of Salus, right; SAL AVG across field.
Refs: SGI 419; Heiss 272, 35; Cohen 247, 1; RPC 1, 185; SNG Cop 503.

Caligula, 37-41 CE.
Roman provincial Æ 20 mm, 6.74 g.
Peloponnese, Corinthia, Corinth, Ae. P. Vipsanius Agrippa and M. Bellius Proculus, duoviri, 37-38 CE.
Obv: C CAESAR AVGVSTV, bare head right.
Rev: M BELLIO PROCVLO IIVIR / COR, Pegasus flying right.
Refs: RPC I 1173; Amandry (1988) XVII; BCD Corinth 405-6.

[Octavius]

  A few of my Caligulas (or is it my Caligulae?)

[Limes]

9 hours ago, Ryro said:

Gauis "Caligula" Caesar:

I was very happy to win this at CNG this morning. This is a type that I've wanted since I first started collecting ancients but thought it was simply too popular and expensive for me to ever have in my collection. 

It's an incredibly popular type, in no small part thanks to a boy named Suetonius and his salacious stories about Caligula's incestuous relationships with his sisters (stories probably made up due to the uniqueness of him putting his sisters in this coin and how he publicly grieved for the death of beautiful Drusilla).

Gaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. Æ Sestertius (33.5mm, 23.85 g, 7h). Rome mint. Struck AD 37-38. Laureate head left / Gaius' three sisters standing facing: Agrippina (as Securitas) leaning on column, holding cornucopia, and placing hand on Drusilla (as Concordia), holding patera and cornucopia; on right, Julia (as Fortuna) holding rudder and cornucopia. RIC I 33. Reddish-brown and light green patina, portrait defaced in antiquity. Fine.

Some would consider this a damnatio memoriae as the defacing is from antiquity. I do. But others have varying feelings on what constitutes as being officially damned. Gauis was. And his face is gone just like Marty McFly's older brother!

I could have spent the money instead on finally getting a silver Caligula Didrachm. After all, he is the only of Sue's 12 that I don't have in AR. Yet, I have zero regrets:

Yeah, I've always had a fascination with someone like Caligula who got the power and used it much like I fear I would:

So, how could I not try to pick up coins of his when possible:

Caligula, 37-41 AD., AS Rome mint. Av. bare head left Rv. Vesta seated left, holding patera. Quality is fine to very fine with a dark green patina, weight is 9,96gr. 

Caligula (Gaius) AE AS Rome Mint 37-38 CE 27mm, 8.30 gr Obverse: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT, bare head left REVERSE: VESTA S C, Vesta enthroned left, long scepter transveres in left RIC: 38, Sear 1803, Cohen 27, BMC I 46. Note: Likely Barbarous

Gaius (Caligula) 37-41 CE. Æ Quadrans (17.5mm, 2.48g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 40. C • CAESAR • DIVI • AVG • PRON • AVG •, pileus between S C / PON • M TR • P • III • P P • COS • TERT • around R • C • C •. RIC I 45; BMCRE 61-3; BN 107-8. Choice EF, green patina, traces of earthen deposits.

Here's dad. One of the most celebrated generals in all of Roman history:

Germanicus, As (42, Rome) - Restitution of Claudius

A/ GERMANICVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N. Bare head of Germanicus right.

R/ TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM PM TR P IMP PP. Legend around a large SC.

C.9 (3f)-RCV.1905 RIC.106

Ae ; 11.31 gr ; 30 mm, Purchased from Monnaies d’Antan May 2022

 

Grandma and him:

Gaius Caligula, with Antonia, MACEDON. Thessalonica. 37-41. (Bronze, 22 mm, 9.95 g, 6 h). Γ KAIΣAP ΘEΣΣAΛONIKEΩN Laureate head of Caligula to left. Rev. ΑΝΤΩΝΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ Veiled head of Antonia II to left, wearing stephane. RPC I 1574. Brown patina. NVF. Purchased from Savoca November 2021

He had this one made in honor of his grandpa, the general whom ensured Augustus was able to rise to power upon his adoption via JC:

(this burly MFer was the one who really defeated Marc Antony)

Agrippa Æ As. Struck under Caligula, 37-41 AD. M AGRIPPA L F COS III, head left wearing rostral crown / S-C, Neptune standing facing, head left, naked except for cloak draped behind him & over both arms, holding small dolphin in right hand & vertical trident in left. Cohen 3. Former @GregH

 

 

and if you've not seen it, get to work! Just don't forget the tissue paper. It's a real jerker... tear jerker, that is:

Please post your coins of Gaius, coins that you thought you'd never own but there they are in your collection, thoughts or whatever depravity that hides in your grey matter. 

Congratulations on this amazing addition! A grail coin for many, including me 🙂 Despite the deep cut on the obverse, it truly is a great coin. The reverse is beautiful, despite the wear, and the names of the sisters are clear.

And yes, I had it on my watchlist too, but I will wait for a portrait sestertius. Glad to see it went to a fellow board member. I spent budget on another sestertius of Caligula, high on my wantlist, no portrait issue ... To be continued 😉 

[Furryfrog02]

What an awesome coin! Congrats @Ryro!
I don't have any coins of any of those guys yet. Perhaps some day 🙂

[Al Kowsky]

10 hours ago, Ryro said:

Gauis "Caligula" Caesar:

I was very happy to win this at CNG this morning. This is a type that I've wanted since I first started collecting ancients but thought it was simply too popular and expensive for me to ever have in my collection. 

It's an incredibly popular type, in no small part thanks to a boy named Suetonius and his salacious stories about Caligula's incestuous relationships with his sisters (stories probably made up due to the uniqueness of him putting his sisters in this coin and how he publicly grieved for the death of beautiful Drusilla).

Gaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. Æ Sestertius (33.5mm, 23.85 g, 7h). Rome mint. Struck AD 37-38. Laureate head left / Gaius' three sisters standing facing: Agrippina (as Securitas) leaning on column, holding cornucopia, and placing hand on Drusilla (as Concordia), holding patera and cornucopia; on right, Julia (as Fortuna) holding rudder and cornucopia. RIC I 33. Reddish-brown and light green patina, portrait defaced in antiquity. Fine.

Some would consider this a damnatio memoriae as the defacing is from antiquity. I do. But others have varying feelings on what constitutes as being officially damned. Gauis was. And his face is gone just like Marty McFly's older brother!

I could have spent the money instead on finally getting a silver Caligula Didrachm. After all, he is the only of Sue's 12 that I don't have in AR. Yet, I have zero regrets:

Yeah, I've always had a fascination with someone like Caligula who got the power and used it much like I fear I would:

So, how could I not try to pick up coins of his when possible:

Caligula, 37-41 AD., AS Rome mint. Av. bare head left Rv. Vesta seated left, holding patera. Quality is fine to very fine with a dark green patina, weight is 9,96gr. 

Caligula (Gaius) AE AS Rome Mint 37-38 CE 27mm, 8.30 gr Obverse: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT, bare head left REVERSE: VESTA S C, Vesta enthroned left, long scepter transveres in left RIC: 38, Sear 1803, Cohen 27, BMC I 46. Note: Likely Barbarous

Gaius (Caligula) 37-41 CE. Æ Quadrans (17.5mm, 2.48g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 40. C • CAESAR • DIVI • AVG • PRON • AVG •, pileus between S C / PON • M TR • P • III • P P • COS • TERT • around R • C • C •. RIC I 45; BMCRE 61-3; BN 107-8. Choice EF, green patina, traces of earthen deposits.

Here's dad. One of the most celebrated generals in all of Roman history:

Germanicus, As (42, Rome) - Restitution of Claudius

A/ GERMANICVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N. Bare head of Germanicus right.

R/ TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM PM TR P IMP PP. Legend around a large SC.

C.9 (3f)-RCV.1905 RIC.106

Ae ; 11.31 gr ; 30 mm, Purchased from Monnaies d’Antan May 2022

 

Grandma and him:

Gaius Caligula, with Antonia, MACEDON. Thessalonica. 37-41. (Bronze, 22 mm, 9.95 g, 6 h). Γ KAIΣAP ΘEΣΣAΛONIKEΩN Laureate head of Caligula to left. Rev. ΑΝΤΩΝΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ Veiled head of Antonia II to left, wearing stephane. RPC I 1574. Brown patina. NVF. Purchased from Savoca November 2021

He had this one made in honor of his grandpa, the general whom ensured Augustus was able to rise to power upon his adoption via JC:

(this burly MFer was the one who really defeated Marc Antony)

Agrippa Æ As. Struck under Caligula, 37-41 AD. M AGRIPPA L F COS III, head left wearing rostral crown / S-C, Neptune standing facing, head left, naked except for cloak draped behind him & over both arms, holding small dolphin in right hand & vertical trident in left. Cohen 3. Former @GregH

 

 

and if you've not seen it, get to work! Just don't forget the tissue paper. It's a real jerker... tear jerker, that is:

Please post your coins of Gaius, coins that you thought you'd never own but there they are in your collection, thoughts or whatever depravity that hides in your grey matter. 

Ryro, Congrats on an impressive score ☺️! I scored two unimportant coins at the auction & will post them when they arrive 😉.

[Al Kowsky]

10 hours ago, Prieure de Sion said:

Unfortunately, I still miss the REAL three sisters of Caligula. I have only a Giovanni da Cavino from the sixteenth century - so no original. You have caught a really nice and above all interesting piece. Especially historically through the "Damnatio memoriae" - that's really great.

 

Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Caligula

Paduan medal work of Giovanni da Cavino (1500-1570) XVI century; Imitating a Sestertius of the Roman Imperial Period 37/38 AD; Material: AE Bronze; Diameter: 37mm; Weight: 25.43g; Mint: Rome imitating; Reference: Imitating type RIC I (second edition) Gaius/Caligula 33, Klawans 1 (these dies); Obverse: Head of Caligula, laureate, left. The Inscription reads: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT for Caius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestate (Gaius Caesar, Augustus, conqueror of the Germans, high priest, holder of tribunician power); Reverse: Three sisters of Caligula in guise of Securitas (Agrippina), Concordia (Drusilla), and Fortuna (Julia), standing side by side to front. The Inscription reads: AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA S C for Agrippina Drusilla Iulia. Senatus Consultum (Agrippina Drusilla Iulia. Decree of the senate).

 

 

 

 

The video shows the true beauty of this Paduan ☺️!

[Al Kowsky]

6 hours ago, Octavius said:

  A few of my Caligulas (or is it my Caligulae?)

That's a breathtaking group of coins 🤩!

[Prieure de Sion]

24 minutes ago, Al Kowsky said:

The video shows the true beauty of this Paduan ☺️!

Sure… but the original will be better 😞 

[Ryro]

😁

@CPK Great call out, thank you very much and hades yes! 

It is a damnatio memoriae of the first emperor to have a damnatio memoriae levied against him! And yet, statues aside, in coinage it's strangely rare to come across coins of his defaced. 

19 hours ago, Roman Collector said:

Wow!!! 😲 Coingratulations, @Ryro, for acquiring such a historically important addition to your numophylacium!!

Thanks for the nomenclature of my visicitudes. And nice Caesonia😉

19 hours ago, Octavius said:

  A few of my Caligulas (or is it my Caligulae?)

That's probably the greatest spread of Caligula coinage thatmost will ever see. Huge coingrats on that assemblage. 

Lol! Caligulae. Nice🤣

Can't wait to see the new coins @Al Kowsky & @Limes! 

Thanks @Furryfrog02and I hope it does. 

... hoping to see more Caligulae, as @Octavius would say.😜 

Post em if ya got em!

Edited January 27, 2023 by Ryro

[CPK]

Here is my only Caligula portrait coin - looks like nature tried its own damnatio memoriae: 

[Jims,Coins]

Copper coin (AE as) minted during the reign of CALIGULA between 37 - 38 A.D. Obv. C.CAESAR.AVG.GERMANICVS.PON.M.TR.POT. Bare head left. Rev. VESTA.S.C. S –C to l. and r. of Vesta, veiled and dr., std l., on ornamental throne, r. holding patera, l. long transverse sceptre. SEAR #616. RICI #38. Pg.111. DVM #9 pg.80. RSCII #1803.

Copper coin (AE as) minted at Rome for Germanicus (father of Caligula) in 19 A.D. Obv. GERMANICVS.CAESAR.TI.AVGVST.F.DIVI.AVG. N. Bare head right. Rev. C.CAESAR.AVG.GERMANICVS.PON.M.TR.POT. S.C. SC around legend. SEAR #600. DVM #2.

Copper Coin (AE as) minted during the reign of AUGUSTUS for his friend AGRIPPA in 38 A.D. Obv. M.AGRIPPA.L.F.COS.III.: Bare hd. left, wearing rostral crown. Rev. S.C Neptune stg l., wearing clock, holding trident and small dolphin. Posthumous issue under Caligula. Sears #556. RICI #58 pg.112. DVM #4 pg.74. RCS #1812.

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Nice addition to the collection @Ryro!

 

 

[kapphnwn]

Caius Ar Denarius Lugdunum 37-38 AD Obv head of Caius right laureate. Rv head of the Divus Augustus right radiate RIC 16 3.79 grms 18 mm Photo by W. Hansen

The initial issue of Caligula stressed his connection to his parents Germanicus and Agrippina Snr his brothers as well as Augustus. The only one missing in this paean to ancestry was Tiberius. However this snub had a deeper purpose. Because he had no experience Caius had to establish his legitimacy by emplacing his connection to Augustus, something that Tiberius could not give him.

[ambr0zie]

What a great coin. I was hoping it was also won with a bargain price. 
I remember I recently saw a replica of it on a recent auction. Having a separate category of Replicas. Unmarked, worn, patina striped. I liked the entire category so much that I decided to ignore that house forever. 

Your coin is genuine and has a lot of personality, in my opinion it is very attractive ESPECIALLY because of the type. 
I  cannot brag too much about my only Caligula coin, that is quite a dull example, without symbolic/historical importance. 

Ionia. Smyrna. Caligula  AD 37-41. 
Aviola, proconsul and Menophanes, magistrate .
Bronze Æ
15 mm, 2,74 g
RPC I 2473
Obverse inscription    ΓΑΙΟΝ ΚΑΙϹΑΡΑ ƐΠΙ ΑΟΥ(Ι)ΟΛΑ
Obverse design    laureate head of Caligula, r.
Reverse inscription    ΖΜΥΡΝΑΙWΝ ΜΗΝΟΦΑΝΗϹ
Reverse design    Nike, r., with palm and wreath

On 1/27/2023 at 2:29 AM, Ryro said:

coins that you thought you'd never own but there they are in your collection

I didn't think I would get a Brutus. Even if this coin is not FDC, I still consider it one of my best coins. 

[Zarco]

Coingratulations, Ryro! That is a great acquisition.

Here's my little sub-collection of coins issued by Caligula.  All photos are from the sellers.

Adlocutio Cohortium Sestertius

This coin completed my Twelve Caesars collection and I feel fortunate to have acquired it.  It was worth getting up at 4:45 for this auction.  I remember watching the live feed from Baldwin's when the auctioneer remarked "Someone is getting an inexpensive sestertius of Caligula today."

Caligula, AD 37-41.
AE Sestertius, 21.9 g, 33.6 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 37-38.
Obv: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT; Head of Caligula, laureate, left.
Rev: AD[LO]CVT COH; Caligula, bare-headed and togate, standing, left, on low platform on right extending right hand to five soldiers standing in front of him, helmeted with shields and parazonia; the two rearmost pairs carry an aquila.
Ref: RIC 32
Acquired from Baldwin's Auctions, Auction No. 108, Lot 28, 8 November 2022.

Vesta As

I bought this coin only about a week before the I won the sestertius at auction.  The obverse is pretty nice, the reverse not so much, but I wasn't buying this coin for Vesta.  The sestertius was on my radar, but I wasn't sure I could win it, so I jumped on this one.  It was the nicest portrait I had seen for a price point just above my sweet spot ($100-200.)  Additionally, this variety appears to be the least common of the three Vesta types issued by Caligula.

Caligula, AD 37-41.
AE As, 10.4 g, 27.6 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 39-40.
Obv: C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG P M TR P III P P; Head of Caligula, bare, left.
Rev: VESTA S C; Vesta, veiled and draped, seated left, on throne with ornamented back and legs, holding patera in right hand and long transverse sceptre in left.
Ref: RIC I 47
Acquired from Marc Breitsprecher, Classical Numismatist, 29 October 2022.

Germanicus Dupondius

I really like this coin, both because of the unique horizontal inscriptions and the history it represents.  In AD 9, three Roman legions (Legio XVII, Legio XVIII and Legio XIX) under Quinctilius Varus were defeated by Germanic tribes in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, resulting in the loss of the three legions' military standards (eagles). This was a huge disgrace to the Romans and the legion numbers XVII, XVIII and XIX were never used again.  Augustus "took the disaster so deeply to heart that he left his hair and beard untrimmed for months; he would often beat his head on a door, shouting 'Quinctilus Varus, give me back my legions!' and always kept the anniversary as a day of deep mourning." (Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars, Augustus 23)  From AD 15-16, Germanicus, Caligula's father, conducted three campaigns to avenge the defeat of the legions and to recover the lost eagles. After recovering two of the eagles, Germanicus was recalled to Rome by Tiberius and awarded a triumph.  This is what is depicted on this coin. On the obverse, we see Germanicus driving a quadriga in his triumph.  The reverse shows Germanicus addressing his troops with right hand raised and holding one of the recovered eagles in his left.  The legend translates to "standards recovered, Germans defeated."

Caligula, AD 37-41.
AE Dupondius, 15.4 g, 29.1 mm, 7 h.
Rome mint, AD 37-41.
Obv: GERMANICVS CAESAR; Germanicus, bare-headed and cloaked, standing in quadriga, right, holding eagle tipped sceptre.
Rev: SIGNIS RECEPT DEVICTIS GERM S C; Germanicus bare-headed and cuirassed with tunic standing, left, right hand raised and left hand holding aquila.
Refs: RIC 57, Sear RCV 1820.
Acquired from Artemide Kunstauktionen, Artemide eLive Auction 24, Lot 767, 1 October 2022.

Agrippa As

This is one of the earlier additions to my collection.  Caligula issued this coin in honor of his maternal grandfather, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.  Agrippa was also the right-hand man and son-in-law of Augustus.  I'll always remember Mike Duncan saying in his The History of Rome podcast, "We should all be so lucky to have a best friend as utterly kick-ass as Marcus Agrippa.”

Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa.
AE As, 10.7 g, 29.0 mm, 12 h.
Struck under Caligula.
Rome, AD 37-41.
Obv: M AGRIPPA L F COS III; Head of Agrippa, left, wearing rostral crown.
Rev: S C; Neptune, cloaked, standing left, holding dolphin in right hand and trident in left.
Refs: RIC 58, Sear RCV 1812.
Acquired from Victor's Imperial Coins, 6 January 2019.

[DonnaML]

Only one measly Caligula, more's the pity. I would probably have more if he had bothered to issue some coins in Roman Alexandria!

However, these coins memorializing Germanicus and Agrippa were both struck under Caligula:

[DonnaML]

2 hours ago, ambr0zie said:

I remember I recently saw a replica of it on a recent auction. Having a separate category of Replicas. Unmarked, worn, patina striped. I liked the entire category so much that I decided to ignore that house forever. 

I saw that too, by the way. I am always rather shocked when reputable dealers (including FSR) openly sell unmarked "replicas" -- a nice euphemism for fakes. It's one thing to sell old British Museum electrotypes, and centuries-old Paduans, etc., but modern "replicas" that unscrupulous buyers will turn right around and resell as originals on ebay or elsewhere? Unethical, in my opinion.

[ambr0zie]

 

15 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

, but modern "replicas" that unscrupulous buyers will turn right around and resell as originals on ebay or elsewhere? Unethical, in my opinion.

Agreed. This proved me again another related problem - that I have issues in identifying fakes. 

If you saw that wonderful category, you remember the coins were disgusting - some corroded, some harshly cleaned with traces of patina. In theory, I have nothing against the "fakes for study" (even if I wonder why are those needed in 2023, when you can easily find high resolution pictures of GENUINE coins). But they should be CLEARLY marked. Some could still be fooled even then (I recently saw a replica marked WRL sold as genuine) but this is a different story. 

For me, those unmarked replicas, made to look like a worn ancient coin, are made with a sole purpose - to deceive. I really don't care if some houses put them in a separate category. Nothing stops a buyer to add them back in the market as genuine, like you pointed. 

I saved the pic of the Caligula copy because I discussed with a specialist, I wanted to know what are the bad signs on this. 

I strongly think Ryro's coin is genuine. There is a big chance I could be fooled by an example similar to the copy. Only thing I could do is keep the picture and compare it when I will see a genuine 3 sisters sestertius I want. 

Edited January 28, 2023 by ambr0zie

[Severus Alexander]

Super huge coingrats on this major acquisition, @Ryro!!! WOW!!! I love it.  As there are only low-res images in the thread so far, I'll take the liberty of posting the coin in all its glory:

Yours might be the only example I've seen where I believe the defacement was intentional.  See those ridges?  It looks to me like someone hammered something through the face, leaving a ridge with each thwack (kinda the same reason a Stannard scoop has ridges).  Seven thwacks, maybe?  Plus there's enough corrosion within the defacement to convince me it was done before the environmental damage.

Awesome. 👍👍👍👍

I have a Paduan:

Clearly a cast. It's also a match for CNG E-Auction 509, lot 793, which they identify as a Paduan type, "after Cavino," Johnson & Martini 1324-32.  I think at least a couple people have bought one of these as genuine... here are two "die" matches: one, and two.  Big bucks down the drain... it's definitely buyer beware with this type!

There's a bit of a story behind this coin... it was the first "Roman coin" I ever saw. When I was a kid, a great uncle of mine (an avid collector of many things) had this and a few other Roman coins, most of which came from a shoebox that he had purchased from some guy decades before for 2 gbp. He thought this coin was genuine, as did I for many years.  I thought it was so cool!  It was a big part of the reason I started collecting.  When I did discover the truth I didn't have the heart to tell him. When he died his heirs did find out, of course! And passed the coin on to me as a sentimental keepsake.  I treasure it now. 🙂 

Here's my only genuine Caligula:

[Qcumbor]

The three sisters is something anyone would love in their trays I believe. Below is a slightly different point of view of the "three sisters" seen from McKenzie pass, Oregon (from my trip to North america last fall)

 

Gaius (after he'd got pox I guess)

 

Daddy Germanicus

 

Grandad Agrippa

 

Did someone notice old people look better than youngsters ?

 

😄 Q