Beschreibung
Erhaltung: cf. Numismatica Ars Classica, auction 64, lot 1073 ( in vz: CHF 22.000+ 17,5%) | Abkürzungen
Katalognummer: With the consent of the Senate and equestrian order and Roman people.
Durchmesser: 29,00 mm
weight 15,81gr. | orichalcum Ø 29mm.
Minted after his death, during the reign of Caligula (37-41 AD)
obv. Radiate head of Augustus left, DIVVS AVGVSTVS above,
SC across field
rev. Togate figure of Caligula holding branch and seated on curule chair to left,
surrounded by the legend CONSERV SENAT ET EQ ORDIN P Q R
This dupondius was minted during the reign of Caligula (47-41 AD in honour of his ancestor Augustus. The revers legend stands for With the consent of the Senate and equestrian order and Roman people. Augustus died on 19 August 14 AD in Nola. He is immediately divinized by the Senate. Caligula, becoming emperor, wants to recall his ancestry. He is Augustus great grandson by his mother Agrippina Senior.
The reverse shows a statue of Caligula with his facials clearly recognizable. A possible reason to why it is coupled with obverse of Divus Augustus can be that the statue in question had been set up in the temple of Divus Augustus, which Caligula himself dedicated in August 37 AD. The SC Senates approval mark is almost always placed on the reverse of imperial bronzes, so the portrait side could have been the reverse of this coin however, the long tradition of the portrait systematically being placed on the obverse of ancient coins rule out such a possibility. So why the S C letters are are exceptionally placed on both sides of the portrait ? It might have seemed confusing if the same reverse type showed a statue erected with the Senates approval, a legend expressing the Senates approval of that statue, and letters meaning By Decree of the Senate with reference to the coins production or the establishment of the new bronze coinage by the Senate under Augustus. For the same reason, to avoid reference to two different decrees of the Senate on the reverse of the same coin, S C was entirely omitted from Corona Civica sestertii of Caligula and Claudius, with reverse legend SPQR P P OB CIVES SERVATOS or EX S C (P P) OB CIVES SERVATOS, and from Caligulas Carpentum sestertius for his mother, with reverse legend SPQR MEMORIAE AGRIPPINAE.
cf. Numismatica Ars Classica, auction 64, lot 1073 ( in xf: CHF 22.000 + 17,5%)
Cohen 87 | RIC 56 | BMC 88 | Sear 1811
A fabulous portrait of the best style, struck in high relief, with dark green patina.
xf à vf//xf
