Gaius (Caligula). A.D. 37-41. Æ as. 10.85 gm. 29 mm. Rome mint. Struck A.D. 37-38. His bare head left; C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT / Vesta seated left on ornamental throne, holding patera and scepter; VESTA S C. RIC I 38. Good Very Fine; bold good style portrait; well centered on a full round flan; pleasing brown patina; a few minor cleaning marks; collectors number '30' written in ink on obverse, and 'H 30' written in ink on lacquer on reverse.

This collection of early Roman Imperial bronze was formed by an American collector in the Midwest, buying coins in the 1950's from major London coin houses. He affixed collector 'H' numbers written in ink on lacquer on many of the coins. We have correspondence dated in 1950 and 1951 with Leonard Forrer at Spink & Son, Ltd. and William French at Glendining & Co. Ltd. in London, as well as Earle K. Stanton in Los Angeles, Paul S. Seitz in Pennsylvania, and Edward Gans, Numismatic Fine Arts in New York City.

Caligula, grandson of Antonia, became emperor at age 25 on the death of Tiberius in A.D. 37. Later that year he became seriously ill and possibly insane. David Sear states "his reign was noted for his personal depravity and public oppression," and he was murdered by Praetorian guards in A.D. 41 before the age of 30.