2022-05-30 Mon

The Roman Empire produced many bad emperors, but Gaius, nicknamed Caligula, must be ranked among the worst. He was the great-grandson of Emperor Caesar Augustus but unfortunately had inherited none of his ancestor’s talents. Caligula succeeded Tiberius in March 37 AD.

Though his reign was infamous it produced many scarce coins which are famous among the collectors. A highly idealized portrait of the Roman ruler Gaius Caligula appears on a circa A.D. 37 to 38 bronze sestertius. The obverse of the coin features the bare head of Emperor Caligula facing right.

The reverse is mostly legend which is inscribed within an oak wreath. The legend translates as “the senate and the Roman people to the father of the nation, the savior of the citizens”.

Image Courtesy: coinworld.com