Caligula Honors His Mother

CNG 106, Lot: 705. Estimate $50000. Sold for $100000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Gaius (Caligula), with Agrippina Senior. AD 37-41. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 7.77 g, 10h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck AD 40. C • CAESAR • AVG • PON • M • TR • POT • III • COS • III, laureate head of Gaius (Caligula) right / AGRIPPINA • MAT • C • CAES • AVG • GERM, draped bust of Agrippina Senior right. RIC I 21; Lyon 178/2 (D182/R180); Calicó 327a (same obv. die as illustration); BMCRE 22; BN –; Biaggi 196; Mazzini 5 (same obv. die); Jameson 39. Good VF, toned, light marks. Well struck on a broad flan. Rare.

Caligula’s coinage types are largely dedicated to honoring his deceased ancestors, conveniently thereby advertising his own august lineage.