How often do Caligula denarii come along, and for how much?

Were any before 2001? I thought it was an original idea when I did mine but had given up on the Celator by then.
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/acmshow.html

 

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I dont really know. I sold off my set of The Celator years ago (I should not have, but when space is a premium...sadly some things have to go). Was your article in The Celator? I dont remember who started it, may have been only two articles. But, it is a great concept. Just what can one get for a low price? I am certain we could turn this into a challenge, but then, value is mostly perceived.

 

I suppose I should comment more on the original question, though it may have been fairly accurately answered already. Caligula denarii are not as rare as one might think, though certainly scarce to rare (for reasons already explained). Obviously there is the question of popularity. Many books (and some movies, ahem, colorful???) have lent some desirability to the series. Also, people tend to hold on to some things much longer than others. Which would you rather part with? Caligula denarius of Gordian III Antoninianus? All of these things will have an impact in price and availability. As it stands now, one should expect to pay about $2,000 minimum for a decent Caligula denarius. Sure, there are fourees and other lower grade examples substantially cheaper. But, if one wants it, they have to pay the market price. The last one I had was maybe 20 years ago, and I sold it for $2,500 (VF). They are much more now. It is all a matter of resources and and commitment. If one does not have the resources, settle for a bronze. They can be obtained for little.

 

Back in 2014, I was actively attempting to put together a 12 Caesar set in silver. I had all but the Caligula. I attended the World's Fair of Money in Chicago that year, hoping to find a Caligula Denarius. I budgeted 1500 for it. The best response I received was "well, you may get lucky and find one at that price". The rest of the responses ranged from polite shaking of heads to outright laughter. I think the cheapest one I found at the show was around 2500. I ended up buying a nice fouree from a CNG eauction almost a year later.

 

You may find this lecture of interest.

 

When looking for a denarius of Caligula, patience pays off. So does knowing what your looking at. I never thought I would have the opportunity to get hold of a rare TR POT IIII COS IIII example. When I saw this one, I jumped on it.


Gaius Caligula Denarius
Gaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. AR Denarius, 3.67 g. Rome mint. Struck January AD 41.
O: C CAESAR • AVG • PON • M • TR • POT IIII COS • IIII, laureate head right
R: S • P• Q • R •/P P/OB • C • S • in three lines within oak wreath.
- RIC I -; RIC I (1st ed.) 7 = BMCRE 32 = RSC 23a.

Extremely rare denarius of Caligula's fourth consulship, which only lasted from January 1, 41 until his assassination on January 24. The fourth known.

Although the first of these three rare coins, the British Museum piece, was cataloged in the first edition of RIC I, it was left out of the revised edition. In that edition, Giard notes (p. 110, note *) that the BM piece was a misreading of TR POT III COS III. In fact, the first edition was correct, the piece was not misdescribed.
The second known example of this type was sold as lot 56 in the Bourgey sale of 17 December 1913. Ironically, Bourgey misdescribed that coin as TR POT III COS III.
A third example sold through CNG printed auction 78 lot 1723.

"On the ninth day before the Kalends of February at about the seventh hour he hesitated whether or not to get up for luncheon, since his stomach was still disordered from excess of food on the day before, but at length he came out at the persuasion of his friends. In the covered passage through which he had to pass, some boys of good birth, who had been summoned from Asia to appear on the stage, were rehearsing their parts, and he stopped to watch and to encourage them; and had not the leader of the troop complained that he had a chill, he would have returned and had the performance given at once. From this point there are two versions of the story: some say that as he was talking with the boys, Chaerea came up behind, and gave him a deep cut in the neck, having first cried, "Take that," and that then the tribune Cornelius Sabinus, who was the other conspirator and faced Gaius, stabbed him in the breast. Others say that Sabinus, after getting rid of the crowd through centurions who were in the plot, asked for the watchword, as soldiers do, and that when Gaius gave him "Jupiter," he cried "So be it," and as Gaius looked around, he split his jawbone with a blow of his sword. As he lay upon the ground and with writhing limbs called out that he still lived, the others dispatched him with thirty wounds; for the general signal was "Strike again." Some even thrust their swords through his privates. At the beginning of the disturbance his bearers ran to his aid with their poles, and presently the Germans of his body-guard, and they slew several of his assassins, as well as some inoffensive senators. (Suetonius - Life of Caligula 58).

 

Very nice!

 

A real beauty @Nemo

 

I agree fully but the nagging question on these is what makes them so expensive. If this coin appeared in the same sale with an EF of the COS III and a similar high grade example of one of the two headed family series, would this realize more because of its rarity or would the demand for super coins, even common ones, pull ahead?

 

It's all in the eye of the beholder I suppose.

 

Hi there, I happen to have one of these cos IIII denarii, I´ve had it for years without noticing that fact. It´s vf, somwhat porous and nicely toned. Any idea what it is worth?

 

You'll need pictures to get any help.

 

I see, I´ll work on it. I´m terrible at technology, but i´ll get to it. Thx.

 

If posting images here is difficult you can search sales records for similar coins-- that's what we do when someone posts pictures and asks "what's it worth".

CNG has extensive archives. Except for coins sold through their Coin Shop, don't forget to add on the buyer's premium when determining the price (15-~19.5%).

ACsearch is another good archive although you have to have a paid subscription to see hammer prices.

You can also search for similar coins coming up in auctions:
https://www.numisbids.com/
https://www.sixbid.com/

You can see if any are currently for sale in "retail" e-stores:
https://www.vcoins.com/en/Default.aspx
https://www.ma-shops.de/?lang=en&PHPSESSID=2bada93fbb59cc2eff089f5b88a49b3f

 

Great!, Thanx for the links. It was fun to realize it could be a rare type within Caligula´s coinage. Inherited collection, getting into it.

 

Well, you definitely get sweet points for coin-effort (thanks for posting the obverse ... I'm assuming that you're still trying to take a photo of the cool reverse?)

*edit*

=> you were quicker than me ... great effort on the photos



Good luck tracking-down the collection's worth and/or becoming a collector yourself (congrats on even being involved with these sweet coin examples)

 

Some suggestions:

(1) Post pictures of both the obverse (front) and reverse of the coin.
(2) The coin should fill the picture; any area surrounding the coin isn't useful.
(3) Be sure the pictures are as sharply focused as possible.

Be aware that it's quite possible the coin is a forgery, and try to understand and accept the well-intended input from the responses on this site.

 

Yes, I´m sorry!!! Very clumbsy. I´m in a wonderful maze, amazed, absolutely aware of the above possibilities. Appreciate whatever comes my way. Thanks