Week 5 - May 20, 2002
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Gaius Caligula |
| GAIUS CALIGULA. 37-41 AD. Æ Sestertius
(31.57 gm). Struck 37-38 AD. Rome mint. C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR
POT, laureate head left / S P Q R/ P P / OB CIVES / SERVATOS, legend in
four lines with an oak wreath. RIC I 37; BMCRE 38; BN 50; Vagi 554; Cohen
24. This week's coin was chosen simply for it beauty, It is the finest Caligula sestertius I have had the privilege to handle and it is perhaps one of the finest known of this type. The beautiful brown patina, mingled with traces of red and green, and the fully struck devices showing every vein of every leaf in the oak wreath, make this coins a treasure to behold. Sestertii of Caligula are not rare, but do command a premium in today's market, particularly in the outstanding condition of this coin. During Caligula's short reign, only 4 types of Sestertii were issued in his name: 1) ADLOCVT COH, Caligula addressing soldiers; 2) AGRIPPINA, DRVSILLA, IVLIA, SC, Caligula's three sisters; 3) SPQR OB CIVES SERVATOS, legend in four lines within wreath; 4) DIVO AVG, S-C, Gaius sacrificing before hexastyle temple. The types were repeated each year with changing obverse inscriptions. A fifth type was issued in Agrippina Sr.'s name which has her bust on the obverse and a carpentum on the reverse. Over the years, I have probably handled 100 of the these coins and have never given them much thought, after all the type is rather dull. Coming up with something interesting to write though raised a question. It is interesting to note that all the current standard references for this sestertius fail to mention the fact that it lacks the usual designation of SC typically found on sestertii. They all make special note of the Adlocutio type which also lacks the SC and suggest that it must have been a special issue struck by Caligula from aes acquired from some source other than the aerarium, but none mention this type. Was it also struck from aes acquired from another source, or is their another explanation for the lack of SC? Both types were issued throughout Caligula's reign and the SC is never added. Were these special issues every year? That to me seems difficult to believe. Perhaps these two issues were Caligula's first issues and there was some confusion as to whether SC belonged on them at all; these were the first Rome mint sestertii to carry and emperor's portrait on the obverse and it may have been seen as disrespectful. The lack of SC on the reverse lead Gnecchi to conclude that this type was a medallic issue and he included it in his work on Roman medallions. Anyway, something to think about. Enjoy. |
| Barry Murphy - Email |
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© Copyright 2002 |
