Ancients
Caligula (AD 37-41). AR denarius (19mm, 3.52 gm, 8h). NGC MS 5/5 - 2/5. Lugdunum, AD 37. C CAESAR AVG • GERM • P • M • TR • POT COS, bare head of Caligula right / Radiate head of Divus Augustus right, flanked by two six-pointed stars. RIC I 2. BMCRE 4. BN 3-8. RSC 11. Well-struck, with a pair of excellent portraits on bright surfaces with toning contrasts. The only Caligula denarius that NGC has graded Mint State.
Despite being perhaps the worst of all Roman emperors, Caligula's coinage is interesting and attractive. As he had few, if any, real accomplishments to tout, his reverse types place great stress on his blue-blooded lineage. His portrait on this denarius is a bit intense and stern as opposed to the gentle image on the reverse, depicting his great-grandfather, Augustus, now deified. The second star on the reverse possibly intended to represent Tiberius.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 20000-30000 USD