Dedication of 37AD
Temple of Divus Augustus
Gaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 27.55 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 40-41. C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG P M TR P IIII P P, Pietas seated left, holding patera and resting arm upon small draped figure standing facing on basis; PIETAS in exergue / Gaius standing left, holding patera over garlanded altar;
victimarius holding bull for sacrifice and attendant holding a patera standing on either side; in background, garlanded hexastyle temple of Divus Augustus with pediment decorated with sacrificial scene and quadriga, Victories, and figures of Romulus and Aeneas along roof line. RIC I 51. EF, dark green surfaces. Excellent detail.
Ex Robert O. Ebert Collection (purchased privately from Classical Numismatic Group in June 1990 for $10,500).
Though nothing remains today of the Temple of Divus Augustus, as the monument to one of Rome’s greatest emperors, it would have held an important role in the state pantheon. Begun by Tiberius and Livia shortly after his death, the building was likely situated in the valley between the Capitoline and Palatine hills, where it featured an elaborately decorated hexastyle façade. In addition to the pediment reliefs, the temple bore several acroteria: a statue of Romulus stood to the left; to the right, the mythical founder of the Julian family, Aeneas, carrying his father Anchises and leading his Ascanius. At the apex Augustus drove a facing quadriga flanked by two wreath-bearing Victories. In the upturned eyes of the citizens, these images would have equated the founding of the city, represented by Romulus, with the founding of the ruling dynasty, represented by Aeneas and Augustus.
The obverse of this coin, showing the sacrifice at the dedication of the temple in AD 37, is the only surviving depiction of the first iteration of the structure. It was likely destroyed or severely damaged some time in the mid first century, before being restored by Domitian, and later by Antoninus Pius in AD 159.
