Happy Birthday to the Moster

August 31st, AD 12 marks a very special day in the history of Rome. On that day, in the Italian port town of Anzio (Antium) , 2007 years ago Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was born - better known to the world as Caligula. And the rest is history.
Kown for his descriptive phrase "Oderint dum metuant, (let them hate , as long as they fear", this was certainly a far cry from anything Marcus Aurelius would later write in his "Meditations", yet, the world, such as it is , far better remembers bloody Caligula than it does the more pensive Marcus.

Anyway, I thought this would be a proper time to post your most fearsome portraiture of Gaius.

 

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Yeeeeuuusss! Great, and timely, idea!
Though I do believe Gaius was probably not nearly as batpoop as history has us believe still like to revel in the idea of absolute power corrupting... Awesomely!
Hot sisters. Horse senetors. And add in Jokereqsue levels of insanity and I'm all in.
My only regret is that I haven't spent more on Caligula's Coinage:


PS, cannot put in word how jealous I am of your last coin. That is one of my absolute bucket list/Grail coins. Wonderful condition as well my friend!

 

You sure have some awesome Caligulas, octavius!

 

Not bad yourself Severus.

 

Lovely coins @octavius . I especially like the denarius.

 

Wow @octavius , those are fantastic!

My only Caligula is this provincial...I really need to get one of those big imperial bronzes.


Kings of Bosporus, Aspourgos with Gaius (Caligula), as king, 12 Units, (23mm, 6.45g) Bare head of Caligula right / Diademed head of Aspourgos right; monogram of Aspourgos to left. RPC I 1904.

 

Great coins @octavius, all fantastic I bet there is a few dollars in that lot, I have a Caligula with a Greek perspective.
Caligula, with Antonia, Æ22 of Thessalonica, Macedon. AD 37-41. Γ KAIΣAP θEΣΣAΛONIKEΩN, laureate head left / ANTΩNIA ΣEBAΣTH, veiled and draped bust of Antonia left, wearing stephane. RPC I 1574. 9.28g, 21mm, 12h.

 

I often wonder .. as I am sure we all do at times, what coins would have looked like if these Emperors knew that we would be looking at and collecting their coins nearly 2000 years later... that they were not just propaganda of the day - but a window to their legacy and historical documents unto themselves...

I find Caligula's Imperial coinage particularly bland (outside of the "3 sisters" and a couple of other issues).. but he did give us a great coins commemorating his Father, Mother and one that many of us own - his Grandfather Agrippa.. -sorry rough example:


I only own a Provincial issue for Caligula... I am sure there must be more interesting Provincial coins of "little boot"?

 

As of Caius 37-38 A.D. Rv Vesta seated l. RIC 38 10.70 grms 28 mm

 

Terence... seriously! as soon as I call Caligula's coins "bland" you post this...

 

CALIGULA - Vesta RIC Rome 38

 

Those are some very, very nice coins octavius.

Son, and father:

 

This provincial of Caligula is not exactly "fine style" but neither was Caligula's personality or behavior:


Caligula 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.

 

GAIUS


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

 

Another Provincial that I don't think has been shown in this thread.
SPAIN, Caesaraugusta. Caligula Æ As Scipio and Montanus, duoviri. Priest plowing right with yoke of oxen.

 

Are those all yours?

 

Caligula (37-41 A.D.)
AR Drachm
CAPPADOCIA, Caesarea
O: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS Bare head of Caligula to right.
R: IMPERATOR PONT MAX AVG TR POT Simpulum and lituus.
3.37g
18mm
BMC 102. RIC 63 Sear 1798


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

 

Great coins all. Caligula is a dude I don't have yet. Hoping for a nice denarius to pop up somewhere.

 

Yes, they are all my babies!