Roma, 3.12.2015
Egregio
Lettore,
di seguito riporto gli elementi significativi
pertinenti alla moneta di figura:
Sesterzio1,
zecca di Roma, 37-38 d. C. 2, RIC I
33 (pag. 110), BMC I
37 (pag. 152), Cohen
I 4 (pag. 237), indice
di rarità "R"
Descrizione sommaria (sono indicate in rosso le
parti della leggenda usurate o comunque non più
leggibili):
D. C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS
PON M TR POT3. Caligola,
testa laureata a sinistra.
R. AGRIPPINA
DRVSILLA IVLIA, leggenda,
rispettivamente, a sinistra, in alto e a destra. S C in esergo.
Le sorelle di Gaio, stanti di fronte, a sinistra
Agrippina, nei panni della Securitas, testa a
destra,
braccio appoggiato ad una colonna, sorregge
con la mano destra una cornucopia, mano sinistra
sulla spalla di Drusilla; quest'ultima, testa a
sinistra, nei panni della Concordia, sorregge patera
e cornucopia; Giulia, testa a sinistra, nei panni
della Fortuna, sorregge il timone e la cornucopia.4
La ricerca nel web di monete della tipologia di
figura ha prodotto i seguenti risultati:
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=584074
Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG
http://www.arsclassicacoins.com/ Auction 51 179 («
| ») 5. March 2009 Result 460'000SF Description:
Auction 51 Part I The Roman Empire Gaius, 37 – 41
Sestertius circa 37-38, Æ 27.67 g. C CAESAR AVG
GERMANICVS PON M TR POT Laureate bust l. Rev.
AGRIPPINA - DRVSILLA - IVLIA The sisters of Gaius
standing facing: Agrippina, as Securitas, holds
cornucopiae in r. hand resting on column, with l.
hand on shoulder of Drusilla, as Concordia, who
holds patera and cornucopiae; Julia, as Fortuna,
holds rudder and cornucopiae. In exergue, S C. C
4. BMC 37. RIC 33. CBN 48. Kent-Hirmer pl. 48,
167. Very rare, undoubtedly the finest specimen
known and one of the best Roman bronzes in
existence. A magnificent
portrait of Gaius in the finest style of the
period, perfectly struck in high relief with an
enchanting untouched brown patina, Fdc From the
William James Conte collection. Many aspects of
Caligula’s reign have captured the imagination of
historians, but the sexual relationships he is
said to have pursued with his sisters is perhaps
most shocking of all. It is on par with the
exploits of Elagabalus or the alleged seduction of
young Nero by his deranged mother Agrippina Jr.,
who, by no mere coincidence, was one of Caligula’s
sisters. Caligula’s incestuous relationships with
his sisters are alleged by the relatively
contemporary historians Suetonius and Josephus.
Much later, in the fourth and fifth centuries,
these original claims were echoed by various
writers, including Eutropius, Aurelius Victor, St.
Jerome, Orosius and the anonymous compiler of the
Epitome de caesaribus. The truth of the claims, of
course, is impossible to confirm, and there is a
healthy dose of skepticism among modern scholars.
Whatever personal or sexual affection Caligula may
have felt toward his sisters, this coinage is
purely political and dynastic in flavour. His
sisters are each named and are shown in the guise
of personifications: the eldest, Agrippina Junior,
as Securitas, the middle-sister, Drusilla, as
Concordia, and the youngest, Julia Livilla, as
Fortuna. This remarkable type was produced on two
occasions, his initial coinage of 37-38, and again
in 39-40. The example offered here belongs to the
first coinage, which was issued when all three of
the imperial women were alive. Drusilla,
Caligula’s favourite sister (and the one with whom
he is said to have had an enduring incestuous
relationship), died tragically on June 10, 38,
nearly three months after the last coins of the
initial issue were struck. By the time the last
issue was produced (beginning March 18, 39),
Drusilla had been accorded the status of a
goddess, providing the curious circumstance of a
goddess being portrayed in the guise of a
personification. Life in the palace worsened after
Drusilla’s death and Caligula’s affection for his
remaining two sisters declined. The circumstances
reported by the ancient sources are nothing short
of bizarre: Drusilla had been married to Marcus
Aemilius Lepidus, who had also been Caligula’s
lover. At least after Drusilla died, Lepidus
extended his sexual liaisons to include Agrippina
and Julia Livilla, his former sisters-in-law. By
late in 39 this web of relationships seems to have
evolved into a failed plot by Lepidus against
Caligula, who executed Lepidus and sent his two
sisters into exile out of their suspected
complicity. All of this palace intrigue occurred
in the midst of the second issue of ‘three
sisters’ sestertii, the production of which
Caligula probably halted immediately since of the
three sisters shown, one was dead and two were in
exile for having plotted against his life. This
coin featured on a former NAC christmas card.
Estimate: 200000 CHF.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1739487
Gitbud & Naumann
https://www.gitbud-naumann.de/ Auction 9 428 (« |
») 3. November 2013 Estimate 7'000€ Description:
CALIGULA (37-41). Sestertius. Rome. Obv: C CAESAR
AVG GERMANIVCVS PON M TR POT. Laureate head left.
Rev: AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA / S C. Gaius' three
sisters standing facing: Agrippina (as Securitas)
leaning on column, holding cornucopia, and placing
hand on Drusilla (as Concordia), holding patera
and cornucopia; on right, Julia (as Fortuna)
holding rudder and cornucopia. RIC 33. Condition:
Very fine; smoothed reverse. Weight: 26.4g
Diameter: 31.5mm.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1905784
Gitbud & Naumann
https://www.gitbud-naumann.de/ Auction 15 567 (« |
») 6. April 2014 Estimate 500€, Result 1'500€
Description CALIGULA (37-41). Sestertius. Rome.
Obv: C CAESAR AVG GERMANIVCVS PON M TR POT.
Laureate head left. Rev: AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA
/ S C. Gaius' three sisters standing facing:
Agrippina (as Securitas) leaning on column,
holding cornucopia, and placing hand on Drusilla
(as Concordia), holding patera and cornucopia; on
right, Julia (as Fortuna) holding rudder and
cornucopia. RIC 33. Condition: Very fine. Weight:
27.3g, Diameter: 36mm.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=67158
Numismatik Lanz München http://www.numislanz.de/
Auction 94 193 (« | ») 22. November 1999 Result
15'500DEM
Description: CALIGULA (37 - 41 n. Chr.) No: 193
Schätzpreis/Estimation DM 18000. d=48 mm. Sesterz,
37 - 38. C · CAESAR · AVG · GERMANICVS · PON · M ·
TR · POT · . Kopf des Caligula mit Lorbeerkranz
links. Rs: AGRIPPINA - DRVSILLA - IVLIA / S · C.
Die drei Schwestern des Caligula nebeneinander en
face: Agrippina als Securitas, den Kopf nach
rechts gewandt, im rechten Arm ein auf eine Säule
gesetztes Füllhorn haltend und ihre Linke auf die
Schulter ihrer Schwester gelegt; in der Mitte
Drusilla als Concordia mit Patera in der Rechten
und Füllhorn im linken Arm, den Kopf nach links
gewandt wie Iulia als Fortuna, die in der Rechten
ein Steuerruder und im linken Arm ein Füllhorn
hält. RIC 33. C. 4. BMC 36. CBN 49. MIR 8-4. 25,63
g. Selten. Sehr gutes Portrait, gelbbraune Patina,
fast vorzüglich / vorzüglich. über das Verhältnis
des Caligula zu seinen Schwestern Drusilla, Iulia
und Agrippina berichtet Sueton: Mit all seinen
Schwestern trieb Caligula Unzucht und ließ sie vor
aller Welt beim Essen eine nach der anderen neben
sich sitzen, während seine Gattin auf seiner
andern Seite ihren Platz hatte. Man nimmt an, daß
er, noch im Knabenalter, Drusilla, eine seiner
Schwestern, verführt hat und einmal in ihren Armen
von seiner Großmutter Antonia, bei der sie beide
erzogen wurden, ertappt worden ist. Später
heiratete diese den ehemaligen Konsul Lucius
Cassius Longinus. Caligula nahm sie dann diesem
wieder weg und behandelte sie öffentlich wie seine
legitime Gattin. Als er krank wurde, setzte er sie
sogar als Erbin und Nachfolgerin ein. Nach ihrem
Tod ordnete er allgemeinen Stillstand der
Geschäfte an, und es war bei Todesstrafe verboten,
während dieser Zeit zu lachen, zu baden und mit
Eltern, Frau oder Kindern gemeinsam zu essen (. .
.). Später legte er nie mehr, selbst bei den
wichtigsten Angelegenheiten (. . .) einen Eid ab,
ohne bei der ,Gottheit der Drusilla` zu schwören.
Seine andern Schwestern liebte er nicht mit
gleicher Leidenschaft, noch bedachte er sie mit
gleichen Ehren." (Caligula 24). In der Tat wurden
Iulia und Agrippina 39 n. Chr. von Caligula vom
Hof verbannt, wohl weil sie in eine Verschwörung
gegen ihn verwickelt waren, während Drusilla nach
ihrem Tod im Jahr zuvor als Panthea konsekriert
wurde.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=207617
Gemini, LLC http://www.geminiauction.com/ Auction
I 311 (« | ») 11. January 2005 Result 4'000$
Description: Caligula (AD 37-41). Orichalcum
sestertius (27.92 gm). Rome, AD 37-38. C CAESAR
AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT, laureate head left /
AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA S C, Caligula's three
sisters with the attributes of Securitas,
Concordia, and Fortuna: Agrippina leaning on
column, holding cornucopia, and placing left hand
on Drusilla's shoulder; Drusilla holding patera
and cornucopia; Julia holding rudder and
cornucopia. BMCRE 36. CBN 47, pl. xiii (same
reverse die). Cohen 4. RIC 33. Well pedigreed but
rather tooled. Extremely fine Ex Garrett
Collection (NFA-Bank Leu, Part I, 16-18 May 1984,
lot 727); M. Schulman (11/28); Hennessy
Collection, Paris. Estimate: $3750.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2634330
Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger
http://www.coinhirsch.de/ Auction 313 2057 (« | »)
23. September 2015 Estimate 7'500€, Result 6'000€
Description: RÖMISCHE MÜNZEN, RÖMISCHES
KAISERREICH CALIGULA. 37-41, Sesterz. 37/38. C
CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT Belorbeerter
Kopf l. Rs: AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA Die 3
Schwestern des Kaisers stehen jeweils ein Füllhorn
haltend in der Pose von Göttinnen nebeneinander:
Agrippina als Securitas auf Säule gestützt,
Drusilla als Concordia mit Patera und Iulia
Livilla mit Steuerruder als Fortuna. C. 4. R.I.C.
33. 27.65g, Schöne hellbraune Patina. R vz. Ex NAC
2, 1990, Los Nr. 543. Die Ehrung seiner Verwandten
spielte in der Münzprägung des Caligula eine
herausragende Rolle. Eines der schönsten Beispiele
dafür ist die Darstellung seiner Schwestern als
Göttinnen. Drusilla verstarb bereits 38 n. Chr.,
Iulia Livilla wurde später von Caligula verbannt,
unter Claudius zunächst begnadigt, dann aber
wieder verbannt und kurz darauf getötet. Agrippina
Minor heiratete später ihren Onkel Claudius und
sicherte für ihren Sohn Nero den Kaiserthron.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2016372
Numismatik Lanz München http://www.numislanz.de/
Auction 158 480 (« | ») 5. June 2014 Estimate
5'000€, Result 8'000€ Description: RÖMISCHE MÜNZEN
KAISERREICH CALIGULA (37 - 41) Sesterz, 37 - 38,
Rom. C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT, Kopf
mit Lorbeerkranz nach rechts. Rs: AGRIPPINA -
DRVSILLA - IVLIA / S C, die drei Schwestern des
Caligula nebeneinander en face stehend: Agrippina
als Securitas mit Füllhorn, auf eine Säule
gestützt und den Kopf nach rechts gewandt,
Drusilla als Concordia mit Patera und Füllhorn
sowie Iulia als Fortuna mit Steuerruder und
Füllhorn, beide den Kopf nach links gewandt. RIC
33; C. 4; BMC 36. 26,37g. Selten. Vorzüglich.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2529433
Obolos (by Nomos)
http://www.nomosag.ch/default.aspx?page=ucWebAuctions
Webauction 2 222 (« | ») 14. June 2015 Result
3'600SF Description: Gaius (Caligula), 37-41.
Sestertius (Orichalcum, 34mm, 25.19 g 7), Rome,
37-38. C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT
Laureate head of Gaius to left. Rev. AGRIPPINA
DRVSILLA IVLIA / S C Gaius' three sisters standing
facing; Agrippina on the left as Securitas, her
head turned to right, holding cornucopiae with her
right hand and leaning on a column; Drusilla in
the middle as Concordia, her head turned to left,
holding patera in her right hand and cornucopiae
in her left; Julia on the right as Fortuna, her
head turned to left, holding rudder in her right
hand and cornucopiae in her left. BMC 37. BN 47.
Cohen 4. RIC 33. Rare. Metal flaw on the obverse
and somewhat smoothed, otherwise , very fine. From
the GH Collection, and from the collection of Dr.
F. Pipito, Superior Galleries 12-14 December 1987,
916.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=862573
Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung
http://www.gmcoinart.de/ Auction 191 2044 (« | »)
11. October 2010 Description: RÖMISCHE KAISERZEIT
Caligula, 37 - 41 n. Chr. Sesterz 37 - 38 n. Chr.
Rom. 25.46 g. Vs.: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M
TR POT, Kopf mit Lorbeerkranz n. l. Rs.: AGRIPPINA
/ DRVSILLA / IVLIA / S C, von l. n. r. Agrippina
mit Füllhorn, Arm auf Säule, als Securitas,
Drusilla mit Füllhorn u. Patera als Concordia u.
Iulia mit Füllhorn u. Ruder als Fortuna. RIC 33;
C. 4; BMC 36; BN 47. Grüne Patina, Inschriften auf
Rs. etwas nachgraviert, ss.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=26894
Forvm Ancient Coins
http://www.forumancientcoins.com/ Description:
Caligula, 16 March 37 - 24 January 41 A.D.
The first Rome mint portrait sestertius. 32176.
Orichalcum sestertius, SRCV I 1800, RIC I 33,
Cohen 4, aVF, Rome mint, 24.043g, 36.5mm, 180°, 37
- 38 A.D.; obverse C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M
TR POT, laureate head left; reverse AGRIPPINA
DRVSILLA IVLIA S C, the three sisters of Caligula
standing, in the guises of Securitas, Concordia
and Fortuna; full circles strike, ex CNG e-sale
11/07 lot 220; rare; SOLD.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1211553
Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung
http://www.gmcoinart.de/ Auction 204 2090 (« | »)
5. March 2012 Estimate 1'700€, Result 1'600€,
Description: RÖMISCHE KAISERZEIT Caligula, 37 - 41
n. Chr. AE Sesterz (26,92g). 37 - 38 n. Chr. Mzst.
Rom. Vs.: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT,
Kopf mit Lorbeerkranz n. l. Rs.: AGRIPPINA /
DRVSILLA / IVLIA / S C, von l. n. r. Agrippina mit
Füllhorn, Arm auf Säule, als Securitas, Drusilla
mit Füllhorn u. Patera als Concordia u. Iulia mit
Füllhorn u. Ruder als Fortuna. RIC 33; C. 4; BMC
36; BN 47. RR! Dunkelbraune Patina, ss Ex Henzen
15, 2003, 73.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=313573
Freeman & Sear http://www.freemanandsear.com/
Mail Bid Sale 13 396 (« | ») 25. August 2006
Description:
ROMAN EMPIRE. Caligula (AD 37–41). Æ sestertius
(27.41 gm). Rome, AD 37–38. C. CAESAR. AVG.
GERMANICVS. PON. M. TR. POT, laureate head of
Caligula left / AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA S C,
Caligula’s three sisters standing facing: from
left to right, Agrippina as Securitas, holding
cornucopia and resting on column; Drusilla as
Concordia, holding patera and cornucopia; and
Julia as Fortuna, holding rudder and cornucopia.
RIC 33. BMCRE 36. Cohen 4. RCTV 1800 (this coin
photographed). A pleasing example of this scarce
type. Red-brown patina, lightly smoothed. Good
very fine. Estimate: $8,000.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=498818
UBS Gold & Numismatics http://www.ubs.com/
Auction 78 1423 (« | ») 9. September 2008 Result
3'200SF Description: ANCIENT COINAGE SPECIAL
COLLECTION OF ROMAN IMPERATORS AND EMPERORS ROMAN
EMPIRE Gaius "Caligula", 37-41 No.: 1423
Schätzwert/Estimate: 1000SF Sestertius
37/38, Rome. C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT
Laureate head to l. Rev. AGRIPPINA – DRVSILLA –
IVLIA – S C Caligula's three sisters, Agrippina on
l. as Securitas holding cornucopia and resting on
column, Drusilla as Concordia in the middle with
patera and cornucopia, Julia on r. as Fortuna with
rudder and cornucopia. 26,57 g. RIC 33. BMC 37. C.
4. Green patina. Very fine. Ex Münzhandlung
Basel.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=163722
Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG
http://www.kuenker.de/ Auction 89 2047 (« | ») 8.
March 2004 Result 900€
Description: RÖMISCHE MÜNZEN (ROMAN COINS) MÜNZEN
DER RÖMISCHEN KAISERZEIT Gaius Caligula,
37-41. Æ-Sesterz, 37/38, Rom; 25.09 g. C
CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT Kopf l. mit
Lorbeerkranz//AGRIPPINA-DRVSILLA-IVLIA Agrippina,
Drusilla und Julia stehen als Securitas, Concordia
und Fortuna v. v. BMC 36; Coh. 4; RIC² 33. Von
großer Seltenheit. Felder bearbeitet, braune
Patina, sehr schön. Caligula stellt auf der
Rückseite des Stückes seine drei Schwestern
Agrippina, Drusilla und Julia als
Personifikationen der Sicherheit, Eintracht sowie
des Glückes vor. Besonders pikant ist die
Darstellung der Drusilla als Concordia, mit der er
nach Art der Ptolemäer eine Geschwisterehe hatte
eingehen wollen - obwohl er sie, wie auch seine
anderen Schwestern, zu einer Vestalin erhoben
hatte! Schätzpreis: 1,000,00€.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=197210
Numismatik Lanz München http://www.numislanz.de/
Auction 121 314 (« | ») 22. November 2004
Description:
RöMISCHE MüNZEN KAISERREICH CALIGULA (37 - 41)
No.: 314 Schätzpreis-Estimation: 8000,00€.
d=37mm Sesterz, 37-38. C CAESAR AVG
GERMANICVS PON M TR POT. Kopf des Caligula mit
Lorbeerkranz rechts. Rs: AGRIPPINA - DRVSILLA -
IVLIA / S C. Die drei Schwestern des Caligula
nebeneinander en face stehend: Agrippina als
Securitas mit Füllhorn, auf eine Säule gestützt
und den Kopf nach rechts gewandt, Drusilla als
Concordia mit Patera und Füllhorn sowie Iulia als
Fortuna mit Steuerruder und Füllhorn, beide den
Kopf nach links gewandt. RIC 33. C. 4. BMC 36. CBN
48. MIR 8-4. 29,67g. Selten. Grünbraune,
stellenweise leicht geglättete und etwas fleckige
Patina, vorzüglich.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=301368
Numismatik Lanz München http://www.numislanz.de/
Auction 128 243 (« | ») 22. May 2006 Result
1'600€, Description: RöMISCHE MüNZEN KAISERREICH
CALIGULA (37 - 41) No.: 243 Schätzpreis-Estimate:
1000€ d=37mm Sesterz, 37-38. C CAESAR AVG
GERMANICVS PON M TR POT. Kopf des Caligula mit
Lorbeerkranz rechts. Rs: AGRIPPINA - DRVSILLA -
IVLIA / S C. Die drei Schwestern des Caligula
nebeneinander en face stehend: Agrippina als
Securitas mit Füllhorn, auf eine Säule gestützt
und den Kopf nach rechts gewandt, Drusilla als
Concordia mit Patera und Füllhorn sowie Iulia als
Fortuna mit Steuerruder und Füllhorn, beide den
Kopf nach links gewandt. RIC 33. C. 4. BMC 36. CBN
48. MIR 8-4. 30,67g. Selten. Braungrüne,
geglättete Patina mit Korrosionsspuren, sehr
schön/fast sehr schön.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=362314
Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG
http://www.kuenker.de/ Auction 124 8813 (« | »)
16. March 2007 Result 2'800€, Description.
RÖMISCHE MÜNZEN (ROMAN COINS) MÜNZEN DER RÖMISCHEN
KAISERZEIT Gaius Caligula, 37-41. Æ-Sesterz,
37/38, Rom; 28.11 g. C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M
TR POT Kopf l. mit
Lorbeerkranz//AGRIPPINA-DRVSILLA-IVLIA Agrippina,
Drusilla und Julia stehen als Securitas, Concordia
und Fortuna v. v. BMC 36; Coh. 4; RIC² 33. RR
Braune Patina, min. korrodiert, sehr schön.
Exemplar der Auktion Schweizerischer Bankverein
28, Zürich 1991, Nr. 400 und der Sammlung F. A.
Walters, Auktion Hess Nachf. 211, Luzern 1932, Nr.
337. Caligula stellt auf der Rückseite des Stückes
seine drei Schwestern Agrippina, Drusilla und
Julia als Personifikationen der Sicherheit,
Eintracht sowie des Glückes vor. Besonders pikant
ist die Darstellung der Drusilla als Concordia,
mit der er nach Art der Ptolemäer eine
Geschwisterehe hatte eingehen wollen - obwohl er
sie, wie auch seine anderen Schwestern, zu einer
Vestalin erhoben hatte! Estimate: 1.000€.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=286140
Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG
http://www.kuenker.de/ Auction 111 6579 (« | »)
18. March 2006 Result 1'200€, Description:
RÖMISCHE MÜNZEN (ROMAN COINS). MÜNZEN DER
RÖMISCHEN KAISERZEIT Gaius Caligula, 37-41.
Æ-Sesterz, 37/38, Rom; 26.66 g. C CAESAR AVG
GERMANICVS PON M TR POT Kopf l. mit
Lorbeerkranz//AGRIPPINA-DRVSILLA-IVLIA Agrippina,
Drusilla und Julia stehen als Securitas, Concordia
und Fortuna v. v. BMC 36; Coh. 4; RIC² 33. RR
Grüne Patina, fast sehr schön. Caligula stellt auf
der Rückseite des Stückes seine drei Schwestern
Agrippina, Drusilla und Julia als
Personifikationen der Sicherheit, Eintracht sowie
des Glückes vor. Besonders pikant ist die
Darstellung der Drusilla als Concordia, mit der er
nach Art der Ptolemäer eine Geschwisterehe hatte
eingehen wollen - obwohl er sie, wie auch seine
anderen Schwestern, zu einer Vestalin erhoben
hatte! Estimate: 500€.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=69110
Numismatik Lanz München http://www.numislanz.de/
Auction 97 472 (« | ») 22. May 2000 Result 1'750
DEM Description: RöMISCHE MüNZEN KAISERREICH
CALIGULA (37-41) No: 472 Schätzpreis/Estimation DM
1500,- d=36mm Sesterz, 37-38. C CAESAR AVG
GERMANICVS PON M TR POT. Kopf mit Lorbeerkranz
links. Rs: AGRIPPINA - DRVSILLA - IVLIA / S · C.
Die drei Schwestern des Caligula nebeneinander en
face: Agrippina als Securitas mit Füllhorn, auf
eine Säule gestützt, Drusilla als Concordia mit
Patera und Füllhorn sowie Iulia als Fortuna mit
Steuerruder und Füllhorn. RIC 33. C. 4. BMC 36.
MIR 8-4. 27,84g, St. Selten. Rotbraune Patina,
sehr schön/fast sehr schön.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=476799
Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles,
Inc. http://www.goldbergcoins.com/ Auction 46 -
The Millennia Collection 85 (« | ») 26. May 2008
Result 21'000$ Description: Rome. Gaius
Germanicus, "Caligula," 37-41 AD. AE Sestertius,
Rome mint, struck 37-38 AD. Laureate head of
Caligula left. Reverse: The three sisters of
Caligula standing frontal, heads in profile, each
draped and holding cornucopiae; Agrippina, as
Securitas, rests hand on column, Drusilla, as
Concordia, also holds patera, and Julia, as
Fortuna, also holds rudder; around, AGRIPPINA
DRVSILLA IVLIA, SC in exergue. RIC 33; BMCRE 36;
C. 4. Perfectly centered on virtually round flan.
An impeccable strike, full and sharp, the reverse
figures with remarkable detail. Very rare. NGC
graded Extremely Fine. In spite of his murderous
streak, his debaucheries, and other similar acts,
Caligula showed a surprising degree of "pietas,"
and was quite dutiful when it came to coining
substantial issues honoring his deceased relations
and immediate family. So chosen were Augustus, his
great-grandfather; Germanicus and Agrippina
Senior, his murdered parents; along with his
murdered brothers, Nero Caesar and Drusus Caesar.
To add to the scandal surrounding his reign, he
also honored his three sisters -- some of whom he
had an incestuous interest in. Perhaps even more
shocking to the Roman public was the fact that
when Drusilla, his favorite sister, died on June
10, 38 AD, he had her consecrated. She was the
first Roman woman to receive this special
religious distinction. Estimated Value $20,000 -
24,000. Provenance: Illustrated in Money of the
World, coin 36.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=566532
Stack's http://www.stacks.com/ The Golden Horn
Collection 2233 (« | ») 12. January 2009 Result
15'000 USD Description: Caligula, 37-41 A.D.
Sestertius, 37- March 38 A.D. Rome. Laureate head
l.; C.CAESAR.AVG.GERMANICVS.PON.M.TR.POT. Rv.
Standing facing figures of Caligula's sisters:
Agrippina Jr. cast as Securitas, Drusilla as
Concordia and Julia Livilla as Fortuna, each
holding a cornucopiae; central figure also holds a
patera, Julia also holds a rudder, column at left;
AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA S.C. RIC 33. Deep
tan-brown over attractive fields. Superb example
of this intriguing Sestertius. Extremely Fine.
(15,000-17,500). Unnaturally adoring Caligula
maintained incestuous relationships with his three
sisters even after assuming the purple. Of the
three, Drusilla was his favorite. When she died on
June 10, 38 A.D., Caligula was thrown into an
insane grief. He took the unprecedented act of
having her deified (Drusilla thus became the first
woman of Rome to enjoy this honor) and proclaimed
an Empire-wide mandatory period of mourning where
laughing, bathing and dining with company was
punishable by death. Drusilla's demise also soured
Caligula's relations with his other two sisters -
undoubtedly a spiritually healthy turn of events,
but not one in terms of the women's safety.
Caligula was never very fond of Julia Livilla to
begin with and although he laid with her, he
preferred pimping her out to his friends. When
Drusilla's husband Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (who
was reputed to have been perversely involved with
the whole inner Caligulan coterie) was tried and
convicted of a plot on the emperor's life, Julia
Livilla and her eldest sister Agrippina Junior
were implicated and exiled to the Pontian Islands.
Fortunately for them - and for Rome, their vile
brother was murdered a year later, and they were
recalled by their uncle Claudius. Claudius then
married his niece Agrippina, who already had a
son, Nero (the future emperor) from her marriage
to Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus. Luckless Julia,
though, was soon accused of having an adulterous
affair with Seneca (future tutor to Nero), sent
back to exile and executed a year later on charges
that Tacitus claims were unsubstantiated.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1687690
Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles,
Inc. http://www.goldbergcoins.com/Auction 75 2576
(« | ») 24. September 2013 Estimate 3'000$.
Description: Caligula, AD 37-41. Bronze
Sestertius, mint of Rome, AD 37/8. Laurel head of
Caligula facing left. Reverse: AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA
IVLIA S C, the three sisters of Caligula standing
side by side representing Securitas, Concordia and
Fortuna. RIC 33; Sear 1800. ANACS graded VF-25,
tooled, burnished. Rare and always a popular type.
We note the ANACS slab is scraped across the head
and neck (should be replaced). Estimated Value
$3,000 - 3,500.
L'esame a distanza non ha permesso di giungere a
conclusioni definitive sull'autenticità della moneta
in esame. Se, da un lato, il peso, il diametro e il
tipo di tondello (dorato, non ferromagnetico)
rientrano nei canoni del periodo, due elementi destano
perplessità: in primo luogo la C che segna l'inizio
della leggenda del dritto appare appena abbozzata, in
secondo luogo, è assente la patina naturale di
vecchiaia della moneta antica. Ciò potrebbe spiegarsi
con l'utilizzo, al momento della percussione, di un
conio d'incudine "stanco" e con un'operazione radicale
di pulizia effettuata dopo il ritrovamento ma potrebbe
all'opposto indicare che la moneta è un calco. D'altra
parte il tipo delle tre sorelle è stato spesso imitato
in tempi moderni, anche se la moneta in esame appare
diversa dai riconii di cui sono venuto a conoscenza.
Da notare infine che la moneta è stata trapanata in
alto dalla parte del dritto, probabilmente allo scopo
di essere utilizzata come ciondolo, con la conseguenza
che il suo valore commerciale, nel caso di autenticità
accertata dal vivo, risulterebbe fortemente ridotto
rispetto a esemplari simili nello stesso stato di
conservazione.
Un saluto cordiale.
Giulio De Florio
---------------------------------------------
Note:
(1) Sesterzio
di oricalco. Secondo BMC, il peso dei sesterzi di
Caligola si addensa intorno ai 27,63g. Raccolgo in
tabella le caratteristiche fisiche dei sesterzi
della tipologia di figura tratte dai
link di cui sopra:
Riferimenti |
Peso
(g.) |
Diametro
(mm) |
Asse
di conio (H) |
Link1 |
27,67 |
- |
- |
Link2 |
26,4 |
31,5 |
- |
Link3 |
27,3 |
36 |
- |
Link4 |
25,63 |
- |
- |
Link5 |
27,92 |
- |
- |
Link6 |
27,65 |
- |
- |
Link7 |
26,37 |
- |
- |
Link8 |
25,19 |
34 |
7 |
Link9 |
25,46 |
- |
- |
Link10 |
24,043 |
36,5 |
6 |
Link11 |
26,92 |
- |
- |
Link12 |
27,41 |
- |
- |
Link13 |
26,57 |
- |
- |
Link14 |
25,09 |
- |
- |
Link15 |
29,67 |
- |
- |
Link16 |
30,67 |
37 |
- |
Link17 |
28,11 |
- |
- |
Link18 |
26,66 |
- |
- |
Link19 |
27,84 |
36 |
- |
Link10 |
24,043 |
36,5 |
6 |
Dall'esame dei dati tabulati si evince che le
caratteristiche fisiche del sesterzio di figura
comunicate dal lettore (26g, 36mm, 6h) non si
discostano da quelle dei conî d'epoca.
(2) La moneta è databile sulla
base della prima potestà tribunizia (TR POT) della
quale Caligola fu investito dal 37 al 38 d. C.
(3) Caius CAESAR AVGustus
GERMANICVS PONtifex Maximus TRibunicia POTestate.
Caio Cesare Augusto, Germanico, Pontefice Massimo,
investito dei poteri di tribuno. Germanico è il
patronimico di Caligola. Germanico, giovane e
brillante membro della famiglia Giulio-Claudia, si
era distinto sui campi di battaglia, in particolare
in Germania dove aveva inflitto gravi sconfitte alle
tribù barbariche e recuperato gli stendardi
legionari persi nella disfatta di Varo. Scelto come
successore di Tiberio, era morto anzitempo per cause
sconosciute. La sua enorme popolarità (era chiamato
delizia del popolo romano) aveva aiutato Caio
nell'ascesa alla morte di Tiberio.
Profilo storico: la bisnonna di Caligola, Livia
Drusilla, aveva sposato in prime nozze Tiberio
Claudio Nerone e dalla loro unione era derivata la
discendenza per via materna di Caligola. Quando
Livia Drusilla sposò in seconde nozze Augusto,
il fondatore della dinastia giulio-claudia (v. link),
questi riconobbe come suoi i figli di primo letto
della moglie, ragione per cui Caligola poté
dichiararsi pronipote del fondatore (v. albero genealogico).
Dopo l'ascesa, Caligola, spinto dal desiderio di
autoaffermazione assolutistica, si rese responsabile
di una finanza dissennata. Per far fronte a spese
folli volte ad abbellire Roma (come l'impianto di
flotte lacustri o il trasferimento dall'Egitto
dell'obelisco vaticano, ecc.) ricorse in modo
estensivo a condanne seguite dalla confisca di beni
all'insegna dell'arbitrio più evidente; in politica
estera avviò i preparativi logistici per l'invasione
della Britannia senza procedere poi alla conquista.
Furono i pretoriani ad assassinarlo e a decidere il
nome del suo successore, Claudio, senza interpellare
il Senato. Il personaggio è controverso, anche per
l'esiguità delle fonti (v. link).
(4) AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA
sono le sorelle di Caligola alle quali l'imperatore
concesse gli onori dovuti alle Vestali. Il motivo
della grande popolarità della moneta in esame ed il
motivo per cui è molto richiesta sul mercato
collezionistico è legato ad alcune fonti storiche
(Svetonio e Giuseppe Flavio contemporanei, Eutropio,
Aurelio Vittore, San Girolamo, Orosio e l'anonimo
compilatore della "Epitome de Caesaribus", vissuti
nel 4° e 5° secolo) che hanno riferito sui rapporti
incestuosi che Caligola avrebbe intrattenuto con le
sorelle (v. link). La
consistenza di queste voci, accolte con scetticismo
dagli studiosi moderni, è impossibile da accertare.
La tipologia del rovescio di questa moneta, nella
quale le tre sorelle sono indicate per nome e
rappresentate nelle vesti di una personificazione
(Agrippina Junior, la maggiore, è la Securitas, la
seconda, Drusilla è la Concordia, la più giovane,
Giulia Livilla, è la Fortuna), ha carattere politico
e dinastico. Il tipo fu utilizzato in due emissioni,
una prima volta nel 37-38 (come la moneta in esame)
e poi nel 39-40 quando Drusilla, la prediletta di
Caligola, era ormai morta e deificata (singolare la
deificazione di una personificazione!). Dopo la
morte di Drusilla la vita di palazzo era peggiorata
e l'affetto di Caligola per le sorelle declinato. Le
circostanze riportate dalle fonti antiche sono a dir
poco bizzarre: Drusilla era stata sposata con Marco
Emilio Lepido, che era stato anche l'amante di
Caligola. Almeno dopo la morte di Drusilla, Lepido
aveva incluso nel giro delle sue relazioni sessuali
le sue ex cognate Agrippina e Giulia Livilla. Verso
la fine del 39, sembra che da questa rete di
relazioni originasse un complotto contro Caligola,
che, disvelato, ebbe la conseguenza che Lepido fu
giustiziato e le sorelle superstiti di Caligola
esiliate per sospetta complicità. L'intrigo di
palazzo si verificò nel bel mezzo della seconda
emissione che Caligola probabilmente cercò di
bloccare perché delle tre sorelle, una ormai era
morta e le altre due erano in esilio. Questo è il
motivo per cui le monete della seconda emissione
sono estremamente rare, R5 secondo il Ric. |