Sale: CNG 70, Lot: 864. Estimate $3000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 21 September 2005.  Sold For $5250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GAIUS (CALIGULA). 37-41 AD. Æ Sestertius (28.96 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck 37-38 AD. Laureate head left / AGRIPPINA DRVSILLA IVLIA, S C in exergue, Gaius' three sisters standing facing: Agrippina (as Securitas) leaning on column, holding cornucopiae, and placing hand on Drusilla (as Concordia), holding patera and cornucopiae; Julia (as Fortuna) holding rudder and cornucopiae. RIC I 33; BMCRE 37; Cohen 4. VF, red-brown patina, minor roughness. ($3000)

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.