I had about 30 years ago a really nice AS of Calligula with nice green patina that I loved I acquired it from another fellow metal detector while I was in Spain. Upon return to the U.S.A. and needing money I sold it and some others to an Ancient coin dealer in San Antonio TX sometime in 1991. Long story short I have always had that feeling (you know the feeling) of wishing I never sold it. So I bought one a few weeks ago and another one recently and am trying to decide witch one is the keeper for my collection. Just wondering what you all think? Also the first one has the older looking Caligula but was minted earlier 37-38 AD in His reign and the younger looking portrait is from 39-40 AD later in His reign. #1 RIC38 #2 RIC 47
Everyone sees something different in a coin, but for me, #2 is a real stunning coin. If you decide not to keep that one, I need one for my collection!
#2 has a nice brown color and nice portrait and reverse. #1 is also nice and the legend is well done IMO I wish I had your problem of deciding which to keep. Though in your shoes, I'd probably keep both!
I hope you keep both. Yes, they are two different issues as shown by the inscriptions: the first coin showing the inherited title from his father, GERMANICVS and the second coin proclaiming his familial attachment to Augustus: DIVI AVG PRON AVG (great grandson {Pronepos} of the divine Augustus) and his new status as Father of the country - Pater Patriae - PP. Both great coins in my opinion.
Wow. I actually like the obverse of 1 and reverse of 2. I feel your pain. It would be a tough choice for me.
..it may take you years to decide ...2 is a good #..i have a bronze and brass of lil boots...but i covet a dram or denarius Bronze n Brass As's of Caligula
Number 2 is the one I would keep if I could only keep one. I love that portrait and the lovely brown color (no idea what the other one looks like). Here's mine:
I love the patina and color of #2; that's the one I would keep, but I really hope you're able to keep both.
#1 is nice. #2 knocks my sox off. Here are the two VESTAs I've had. The first was in my first Roman collection, in 2007-08. After I lost my job in the 2008 recession and was forced to sell that collection (which was an Augustus to Zeno portrait collection), I too suffered from seller's remorse. The person I sold it to understandably did not want to sell it back to me later, when I took up a Twelve Caesars set, so I got the second example below (after another two in between, which both succumbed to bronze disease). I liked my first one best, of all the four Caligulas I have owned. But your #2 there... wow.
I prefer the obverse and color of #1 and the reverse of #2. From an old U.S. coin collector perspective, the color of #2 looks unnatural. That’s why I hesitate to give it a full endorsement. A Caligula As is on my list. The denarius is too expensive, and the large bronze is sharper with a better portrait. I know the classic 12 Caesars set is supposed to be done with denarii, but I have already broken that rule with a tetradram so why not add a bronze coin to the mix?
