108, Lot: 91. Estimate $500. Sold for $800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GAIUS (CALIGULA). 37-41 AD. Æ Sestertius (35mm, 26.46 gm). Struck 39-40 AD. Pietas, veiled, seated left and holding patera, left elbow resting on small statue support / Gaius, veiled, sacrificing at garlanded altar; one attendant slitting the throat of a bull on altar, the other holding a patera, behind the group a hexastyle garlanded temple with pedimental scene of sacrifice, the roof ornamented with quadriga of Augustus flanked by Victory Acroteria, statues of Romulus and Aeneas at roofline. RIC I 44; BMCRE pl. 28, 9; Cohen 9 var. VF, green and brown patina, surfaces a bit rough.

From the Rudolf Berk Collection.

This coin commemorates the dedication of the temple of Divvs Augustus, completed in 37 AD, with a remarkable scene of Gaius Caligula in his role of pontifex maximus leading the sacrificial ceremonies. A visually stunning view of religious architecture on a Roman bronze.