JUDAEA, Herodians. Agrippa I, 37-43 CE. AE (Bronze, 34 mm, 11.71 g, 12 h), Caesarea Paneas. [ΓAIΩ KAIΣAPI] ΣEBAΣ[TΩ ΓEPMANIKΩ] Laureate head of Caligula to left. Rev. [NOMIΣ] BAΣIΛE[ΩΣ] AΓPIΠΠA / L E Germanicus, holding scepter and reins, in triumphal quadriga right. Hendin 6270. RPC I 4976. TJC 116. Rare and unusually attractive. Areas of weakness, otherwise, about very fine.


Agrippa I was a devoted and enthusiastic client king of Rome. He lived in Rome when he was young and became close friends with both the future emperors Gaius Caligula and Claudius. In fact, after Caligula became emperor, it was he who gave Agrippa his Jewish territories to rule over. It is for this reason that Agrippa honored Rome's imperial families by placing their images on his coins, such as on this rare type which shows the head of Caligula on the obverse and Caligula's father, the illustrious general Germanicus, on the reverse. Interestingly, it is paired with another type which also commemorates the imperial family, one which depicts Caligula's sisters, Julia, Drusilla, and Agrippina.