Ancient Rome - 37-41 CE Caligula AR Denarius NGC Choice Fine

Gaius (Caligula) (AD 37-41). AR denarius (3.62 grams). NGC Choice Fine, Strike: 4/5 – Surface: 4/5. Lugdunum (Lyon, France) Mint struck in AD 37. Obverse: C•CAESAR•AVG•GERM•P•M•TR•POT, bare head of Caligula right. Reverse: DIVVS•AVG-PATER•PATRIAE, radiate head of Divus Augustus right. Two quite artistic and well-crafted portraits. RIC I 16 (Rome).

From the Historic Scholar Collection.

Despite being possibly the most terrible of all Roman emperors, Caligula's coinage is interesting and attractive. Since he had few, if any, genuine accomplishments to publicize, his reverse types place great emphasis on his blue-blooded lineage. His portrait on this piece appears to hint at his cruel, capricious nature, while the reverse depicts his legendary great-grandfather, Augustus.

A marble bust of Caligula sculpted during his rule, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Photo: wikimedia.org.