Sestertius of C. Caesar Augustus Germanicus ("Caligula"), Emperor of Rome from Rome

Artist: Unknown
Mint: Rome
Ruler: Caligula, Emperor of the Rome, A.D. 12–41, ruled 37–41

A.D. 37

Numismatics

On view, 1st floor, Ancient Art


Gaius Caesar Augustus (ruled 37–41) was called "Caligula" as a boy, for his "little boots" in which he accompanied his father Germanicus on campaign. As emperor he developed new coin types focusing on himself, his father, and his mother, Agrippina I, who was disgraced during the reign of his predecessor, Tiberius. The reverse of this coin focuses on his sisters, Agrippina II, Drusilla, and Julia, who are represented as Securitas, Concordia, and Fortuna, respectively. The obverse illustrates the connection between numismatic portraits, which bear the name of the emperor, and busts in the round, which invariably do not, both of which are on display in the Coins and Medals gallery.

Medium

Orichalcum

Dimensions

28.1 g, 6:00, 35 mm

Credit Line

Ruth Elizabeth White Fund

Accession Number

2004.11.1

Culture
Period

1st century A.D.

Classification
Disclaimer

Note: This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect the Yale University Art Gallery’s complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of records is ongoing.

Numismatics

Obverse Description

Obverse Description: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT Head of Gaius laur. l.

Reverse Description

Reverse Description: AGRIPPINA / DRVSILLA / IVLIA / S C Securitas, Concordia and Fortuna standing. Securitas stands facing r. leaning on column with cornucopiae in l. arm; Concordia extends patera in r. and holds cornucopiae in l. arm; and Fortuna holds cornucopiae in l. and rudder in r.
Provenance

Provenance

Classical Numismatic Group, Lancaster, Pa., January 13–14, 2004, Triton VI, lot 853; Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Conn.
Bibliography
  • Art for Yale: Collecting for a New Century, exh. cat. (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery, 2007), 210, 390, pl. 197
Object copyright
Additional information

Object/Work type

coins, sestertii

Technical metadata and APIs

IIIF

Open in Mirador

View IIIF manifest

The International Image Interoperability Framework, or IIIF, is an open standard for delivering high-quality, attributed digital objects online at scale. Visit iiif.io to learn more

Linked Art

API response for this object

Linked Art is a Community working together to create a shared Model based on Linked Open Data to describe Art.