Germanicus, died AD 19. Dupondius (Orichalcum, 30 mm, 14.63 g, 7 h), Rome, struck under Gaius (Caligula), 37-41. GERMANICVS / CAESAR Germanicus, holding eagle-tipped scepter in his left hand and reins in his in right, driving triumphal quadriga to right; chariot ornamented with Victory and shield.
Rev. SIGNIS - RECEPT / DEVICTIS - GERM / S - C Germanicus, bare-headed and in military attire, standing left, raising his right hand in gesture of command and holding aquila in his left. BMC 93. CBN 140. Cohen 7. RIC 57. A bold example with exceptional details, well struck and with an attractive brown and green patina. Somewhat smoothed
, otherwise, extremely fine.
From the Aes Augustorum Collection, formed since the late 1990s.
Gaius struck a rich series of coins commemorating various members of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, including his father, Germanicus. The latter had been a highly successful general who managed to recover two of the three eagles lost by Varus in the disaster of the Teutoburg Forest while campaigning in Germania. Germanicus became very popular as a result, and his impressive feat is duly referred to on the reverse of our coin. In 19, however, while on a political mission to the Roman East, he died under mysterious circumstances, possibly having been poisoned by the governor of Syria, Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso.
