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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;IdesOfMarch01, post: 2564384, member: 39084&quot;]About two years after I started my Twelve Caesars collection, I had completed both the AR and AV set.&nbsp; My goal at that time had been to collect one representative portrait sample of each emperor, with a reverse that was interesting for each emperor. </p><p><br /></p><p>Gradually during this period I had begun to realize how artistic and attractive the bronzes were, and so decided to extend my collection to include representative samples of sestertii and small bronzes (as or dupondius).&nbsp; Again, I intended to collect one portrait sample of each emperor, with reverses that were interesting and artistic.</p><p><br /></p><p>I always knew, however, there would be an exception to my one-denomination-per-emperor rule: Caligula.&nbsp; Specifically, there were two sestertii that really appealed to me: (1) the ADLOCVT reverse, and (2) the three sisters reverse.</p><p><br /></p><p>The first coin to come along was the ADLOCVT reverse, in 2011, at the NAC auction.&nbsp; But the three sisters proved extremely elusive, with the only high-quality example having been sold at NAC 51 in 2009 for over $450,000.&nbsp; This was well beyond any amount I would have budgeted for this coin.</p><p><br /></p><p>But the recent NAC auction of the Gasvoda collection offered an opportunity for a great example of this coin, one that I was fortunate enough to acquire:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]553337[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>GAIUS (CALIGULA) 37 - 41 A.D.</p><p>AE Sestertius (28.56 g.)&nbsp; Rome c. 37 - 38 A.D.&nbsp; RIC 33</p><p>C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT Laureate bust l. Rev. AGRIPPINA – DRVSILLA – IVLIA Sisters standing: Agrippina as Securitas holds cornucopiae; Drusilla as Concordia holds patera and cornucopiae; Julia as Fortuna, holds rudder and cornucopiae. In exergue, S·C.&nbsp; From the Gasvoda collection.</p><p><br /></p><p>For some reason, the languid poses of the three sisters on this reverse has always reminded me of this first/second century sculpture of the Three Graces that I saw a few weeks ago in Ostia:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]553338[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Note that the three figures in both examples are either holding one another’s hands or in some way touching one another.&nbsp; The sculpture is possibly contemporaneous with Caligula’s reign, and while it’s unlikely they’re related, there’s nevertheless a similarity that I just can’t seem to shake…</p><p><br /></p><p>Postscript: There is a great irony associated with this coin for me. </p><p><br /></p><p>This coin was originally purchased for Mike Gasvoda, at the 2008 Goldberg Millennia Collection auction, by his dealer.</p><p><br /></p><p>I attended that 2008 Goldberg Millennia Collection auction, in person, with my dealer.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Who also happened to be Mike’s dealer!</i></p><p><br /></p><p>The Caligula went for a bargain price at that auction, but at the time I was not collecting bronzes, so my dealer was spared the potential conflict of having two of his clients bidding for the same coin at the same auction!</p><p><br /></p><p>Feel free to post your Caligulas or coins with sisters![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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