The Coinage of Caligula

Here's a nice write up from 'COINWEEK' concerning a brief history of Caligula's coinage. I have inserted coins from my collection to go along with the narrative. I hope everyone enjoys. His coinage is my number one target in my collection of ancient Roman coinage. Please post your coins of Caligula.

Since I had no indication what was from Coin Week. and copyrighted material and not allowed ( use url: instead) and what was yours. I had to remove most.

 

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Caligula (37 - 41 A.D.)
AE30 AS
SEGOBRIGA, SPAIN
O: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS IMP, laureate head left.
R: SEGO BRIGA in wreath.
Segobriga Mint
30.5mm
10.1g
Burgos 1724

 

That is another future Caligula target-provincials. Nice coin. Thanks Mat.

 

Great coins and very interesting write up Gary. Macedon Caligula 37-41 AD (AE 21mm, 9.28 gm) RPC 1574, Caligula left and veiled bust of Antonia.

 

Thanks Ancient Aussie. Nice coin.

 

Nice writeup Gary. I like the denarii of Caligula. You mention 2 of the following coins in your excellent post. The other one features Agrippina.

 

Never heard Caligula referred to as dorky before. Haha! But I can see it. I always thought he did look a bit stiff.

 

Not the most realistic depiction of the man:


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

 

Terrific essay Gary! Caligula and Nero are my two favorites; there must be something wrong with me. Here are some of my portraits of him.

 

I own a few Caligula coins and picked this one for this thread.
It's one of my favourite coins cause of the history behind it. The coin was struck at Rome by Caligula to commemorate the recovery from the Germans by his father, Germanicus, of the standards of the lost legions of Varus. I'm very happy with this one.

Every time coins from Caligula come by, I regret that I didn't buy a silver coin a couple of years ago when I had the chance. I thought Caligula's face was too worn. Boy, have I regret that since. My 'Eleven Caesars' collection in silver has been waiting for quite a while for the last one to arrive, but nothing so far
Please, all those people who hold on to two, three or even four silver Caligula coins, let them free (for a reasonable price of course ), so others can complete their series




Germanicus, dupondius (struck under Caligula in honor of his father).
RIC 57
13,66 g. 30 mm.
Obv. GERMANICVS CAESAR, Germanicus in quadriga right.
Rev. SIGNIS RECEPT DEVICTIS GERM S-C, Germanicus standing left with eagle-tipped scepter.

 

This is a continuation with some of his family commemoratives . By the way, if you called him Caligula to his face, he might just have killed you!

 

GAIUS CALIGULA:


RI Gaius Caligula AE As 37-41 CE Vesta seated S-C

 

Of all Caligula coins, mst common are the Vesta asses. They are so commonly the only coin of this emperor in a collection that there is a stigma attached to owning one in some circles. I have two. The first is the common one with obverse legend featuring (usually on flan) GERMANICVS, the name of his father.


My second one spent several years in my trade stock box with no one wanting it before I realized that it is a more scarce variation with obverse legend advertising Caligula was a grandson of Augustus (DIVI AVG PRON). Those who live and die on the grade due to wear may note that it is a higher grade than my worn coin of the common variety. The rough surface kept the coin out of my collection for years but it will not be given away until I find a better one. Does anyone have a nice example to show?


Octavius showed a nice ADLOCVT COH sestertius with this legend.

 

Is that TR P III? I have one but it is a worn speciman. This date seems to be the hardest to obtain and I believe RIC has it rated as Scarce and TR P IIII as Rare. I see more TR P IIII for sale than TR P III. Here's my TR P III

 

I do not consider it certain but tend to TRP III.

Did you see this one? $8k + extras
https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=96987

 

Wow! The surfaces are amazing! If you look closely at the portrait, is that a beard Caligula is growing?

 

I guess there is something wrong with me also. Caligula and Nero are my favorites also. But I don't think I'm completely gone. I also like Antoninus Pius and Trajan. ;-)

 

Earlier this week, PBS in my area had a Secret of the Dead show featuring Nero. If you're not familiar with PBS's Secret of the Dead series, it uses forensic science and psychology to examine the usual myths about ancient historical figures.

In Nero's case, it examined a lot of his myths and found them to be, well, myths. For example, Nero was said to have poisoned Claudius' son Britannicus (and potential heir to Claudius' title) by a clear, colorless, fast-acting poison introduced in water poured into a glass of wine that was too hot for Britannicus to drink (both Britannicus's food and drink were tasted prior to his consuming them to guard against poisoning). The program dispels this myth forensically by scientifically analyzing the difficulty that ancients would have had in producing such a fast-acting poison. The experts observe that it was extremely unlikely that Nero poisoned his step-brother, but possibly Britannicus died from an epileptic fit.

They show it was equally unlikely that Nero kicked Poppaea to death, pointing out that this was a popular, lurid story that has been told about many powerful rulers.

In fact, most of Nero's myths are dispelled in a similar manner, although he still seems to have murdered his mother Agrippina Senior in some manner, but not in the way described by Suetonius (falling through trap door in a ship). The program concludes that Nero's obsession with the arts, resulting in his neglect of the military and general welfare of Rome, squandering of Rome's treasury, associating with actors and performers who were generally believed to be well beneath the dignity of emperors, led to the rebellion of the soldiers and Nero's ultimate death.

So while Nero was a terrible emperor and probably hated, and even killed, his mother, he was not the monster portrayed by ancient writers.

 

That is the impression I have of him: a wanna-be artist/musician/actor who because of his family was forced into a role he didn't want.

 

I watched it too and found it enjoyable for what it was.

Several coins were featured too. Though 1 gold one looked fake.