Roman Empire Caligula AD 31-41 Silver Denarius NGC Very Fine Twelve Caesar’s

Gaius “Caligula” with Divus Germanicus. Silver denarius, Lugdunum, AD 37-38. 19 mm, 3.76g,

NGC Very Fine (VF) 5/5 Strike 3/5 Surface

Obverse legend C CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR POT COS shows the bare head of Caligula right. Reverse legend DIVVS AVG places the radiate head of the deified Germanicus.

The reign of Caligula, the third Roman emperor, was short yet tumultuous, spanning from 37 to 41 AD. His time in power is often remembered for its notorious excesses, cruelty, and the scandalous behaviour that led to his eventual assassination. However, in the years before his infamous decline, Caligula was keenly aware of the importance of solidifying his rule through imperial propaganda. One of the most telling artifacts from his early reign is the Caligula denarius, minted between 37 and 41 AD, which presents a fascinating glimpse into the use of coinage as a tool for promoting imperial authority and legacy.

The next three years saw a slide into autocracy, fiscal excess, and political purges of his enemies, culminating in his assassination and his families by members of the Praetorian Guard and Senate in January 41. The denarius remains a clear numismatic record of the promise, and swift disillusionment, of his brief reign.

Guaranteed Genuine by NGC Ancients & Capstone

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