Need some help. Found this Caligula As on ebay and would like to know your oppion on its authenticity. What is making me question it are what look like casting bubbles especially the one at the bottom of the neck and the "SC" on reverse. Hard for me to tell if corrosion or bubbles. What do you think?
FYI: Germanicus was Caligula's pop. Here's mine for comparison Germanicus Æ As. Struck under Caligula, Rome, 37-38 CE. GERMANICVS CAESAR TI AVGVST F DIVI AVG N, bare head left / C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT around large SC. RIC 35; C. 1; BMC 49. 10.94g, 29mm Ps, what's the dealers name? As you can see, I need an upgrade
the Germanicus As was struck under Caligula and it certainly looks authentic from the photo - Those "bubles" are what apears to be some areas of corrosion - very common. Th coin may have been smooted and some double striking /overzealous cleaning of reverse inscription. That said, a final determination of authenticity is ALWAYS made with coin - in - hand.
looks like someone tried to smooth the coin to hide corrosion. Usually wear wouldnt appear on a casted coin. Looks good to me. Might have to send it in just to make sure since it is a sought after design.
GERMANICUS AE As OBVERSE: GERMANICVS CAESAR TI AVG F DIVI AVG N - Bare head right REVERSE:TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP P P around large SC Struck at Rome, 50-54AD 9.3g, 30mm RIC106, S1905, BMC 218 GERMANICUS AE As OBVERSE: GERMANICVS CAESAR TI AVGVST F DIVI AVG N, bare head left REVERSE: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT around large SC Struck at Rome, 37/8AD 9.2g, 27mm RIC35, BMC49, S1821
Would this be a good place to note that the asses of Germanicus who died in 19BC were struck both by his son Caligula and his brother Claudius as well as being 'restored' decades later under Titus and Domitian? The reverse legend will specify which emperor issued the coin. Examples above show both the early ones and point out that the direction of the obverse portrait allows separation of the two. The restorations also separate by direction but I don't have enough exposure to them to state details (are all Titus' right and Domitian's left?) here without researching the matter online. Those who want to know can do the legwork. My early impression is that the restored coins have a larger SC on the reverse allowing separation of the coins with zero letters remaining. Who can check me on this? Sometimes the study of low grade, worn out coins will reveal details easy to overlook if all you handle are mint state coins. I do not have any portrait as of Germanicus but am fond of my full length view dupondius attributed to Caligula but not marked as are the asses.
