Three Sisters Sestertius

Sale: CNG 79, Lot: 1061. Estimate $3000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 17 September 2008.  Sold For $5650. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Gaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. AR Sestertius (28.96 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 37-38. Laureate head left / AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA, Gaius' three sisters standing facing: Agrippina (as Securitas) leaning on column, holding cornucopia, and placing hand on Drusilla (as Concordia), holding patera and cornucopia; Julia (as Fortuna) holding rudder and cornucopia. RIC I 33. VF, red-brown patina, minor roughness.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group 70 (21 September 2005), lot 864.

On this popular and beautiful reverse, the three sisters of Gaius (Caligula) are honored and portrayed as having somewhat divine attributes. Drusilla died in 38 AD at the age of 22. In his madness, Caligula's incestuous lust for his remaining sisters turned to violent hatred, and he ultimately banished them to the Pontian Islands.