Sale: CNG 73, Lot: 839. Estimate $3000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 13 September 2006.  Sold For $7000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Gaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. Æ Sestertius (30.59 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 37-38. Laureate head left / Gaius' three sisters standing facing: Agrippina (as Securitas) leaning on column, holding cornucopia, and placing hand on Drusilla (as Concordia), holding patera and cornucopia; on right, Julia (as Fortuna) holding rudder and cornucopia. RIC I 33. VF, mottled brown surfaces, areas of brassy highlights, traces of smoothing, small V-shaped test cut on edge. Rare.

Ex Dr. Jon Kardatzke Collection (Goldberg, 7 June 2000), lot 3538.

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.