Gaius (Caligula) Sestertius 37-38 Rome RIC 32 ADLOCVT COH
Gaius (Caligula), Sestertius, 37-38, Rome
3,800.00$RIC I (second edition) Gaius/Caligula 32.
Obv.: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT, Head of Caligula, laureate, left.
Rev.: ADLOCVT COH, Caligula, bare-headed and togate, standing, left, on low platform on right extending right hand to five soldiers standing in front of him, helmeted with shields and parazonia; the two rearmost pairs carry an aquila.
26.38 g
34.7 mm
Provenance: From the Brian Holland Collection, CNG 525, lot 1037, sold 1600$US at the hammer (20 October 2022); CNG 70, lot 738, sold 2600$US at the hammer (21 September 2005).
Smoothed and lightly tooled.
Highly unusual on this type is the lack of the letters S C, which designate a coin issued by decree of the Senate (Senatus Consulto). From Republican times, the formula had been used on both silver and bronze coinage, but under the Empire, the emperor took responsibility for the precious metal coinage and left only the base metal coins to be issued by the Senate and accordingly marked S C. Imperial bronze coinage without the formula is generally thought to have been issued under special circumstances and under an authority other than the Senate. The ADLOCVT(io) COH(ortium) sestertii are thought to have been a special distribution issue for the Praetorian Guard personally funded out of the emperor's own purse. It was the first to employ the adlocutio as a reverse type.
Before a battle, or on parade, the emperor would address his troops in an event known as an adlocutio cohortium (address to the cohorts). This was an important opportunity for the emperor to be present among his troops to inspire morale.
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In stock