Denarius of Caligula

This is the second coin sent in this week by an anonymous finder. It will have been made quite close to the date of the other, an Ancient British gold stater but this is a Roman silver denarius, which was struck shortly before the Claudian invasion of Britain in AD 43. The coin was struck for Caligula in honour of Divus Augustus.

Both sides have weak areas in the legend but the readings I give are what they would be if everything was clear. On the obverse is a laureate head of Caligula facing right and a legend reading C CAESAR  AVG PON M TR POT III COS III. On the reverse is a radiate head of Augustus and the legend on this side reads DIVVS AVG PATER PATRIAE. This denarius was struck at Lugdunum during AD 40 and it is very rare.    

Valuation

On the obverse there is a scratch on Caligula’s neck and the reverse has been struck off centre. The coin is otherwise in about VF condition. However, collectors much prefer denarii that are silvery in colour. In its present state of preservation a likely pre-sale auction estimate would be £900-£1,200.

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