Caligula:   First Living Princeps To Be Shown  Radiate on Coinage?- Joe Geranio



Joe Geranio

 One final aspect of the seated figure of Caligula on the consensv dupondius is worth examining. Could Caligula have been the first living princeps to ever appear radiate on Roman coinage?  B.E. Levy. in her article entitled "Caligula's Radiate Crown," finds traces of a radiate crown on two pieces:  One in the Princeton University Library; the other in a private collection.  Some scholars believe this theory strengthens the argument that the seated figure is Augustus and not Caligula.  H.M. Von Kaenal advanced this interpretation of the dupondii this way:  His first argument is that on some of the reverses you could identify Caligula's features; secondly, that the reverse legend iis suited to certain events of his accesion.  As Dio tells us, the event was altered by an erruption into the senate- house of equites et populus, and in Von Kaenal's view it is to this, and not the award of an honorific statue, that the legend CONSENSV SENAT ET EQ ORDIN P Q R must refer.  H. Kuthmann brings even stronger evidence of the reverse type not being Augustus when he suggests that on pre-Flavian coins the curule chair is the seat of the living princeps, while that of DIVUS Augustus is a throne. This is strong evidence that the seated figure is that of Caligula.  (Interestingly, Kuthmann identifies the seated figure as Claudius.) 

Levy brings further evidence to light when she suggests that the bronze provincial issues of at least three or four mints show Caluigula with radiate attribution (one from Alexandria, but this issue may represent Helios.)  Another issue from the province of Asia shows a spikey Hellenistic crown. Even stronger evidence that the radiate crown did exist can be seen on consensv dupondii , where the die engraver shortened the vertical bar on the T in ET to accomadate the crown, while the entire letter T is slightly raised in the second Princeton piece.  Levy mentions that the radiate crown is neglected in descriptions which follow illustrations in catalouges.  In specifically looking for the radiated crown on the consensv dupondii, There are at least three issues that have been found via the art trade.  It has been suggested that the radiate crown is occasionally used on Roman coinage to distinguish a newly elevated Emperor.  Thus, the Roman radiate crown was not a true piece of insignia:  Its meaning was flexible and its use optional.  

Fig. 1 You can see where the “T” in “ET” has been raised.

 Tantalus Coin Registry
AE Dupondius
DIVVSAVGVSTVS - Bare head left.
CONSENSVSENATETEQORDINPQR - Augustus, laureate and togate, seated left, holding branch.
Mint: Rome (37-41)
References:
  • RIC 56 (Caligula)
  • BMC 90
  • C 87
  • S 1811


Fig. 2.  Another example of the Consensv dupondius with radiate attribution.


Fig. 3 PHRYGIA, Aezanis. Gaius (Caligula). 37-41 AD. Æ 20mm (5.20 gm). Lollios Klassikos and Lollios Roufos, magistrates. Radiate head right / Zeus standing left, holding eagle and sceptre. RPC I 3085; SNG Copenhagen 80.

 
Fig. 4 IONIA, Smyrna. Gaius (Caligula). AD 37-41. Æ 14mm (2.14 g, 12h). Radiate head right; star behind / Crab. Klose XXVII B (V7/R15); RPC I 2474; SNG Copenhagen 1347; BMC Ionia 279

 

 

 

  1.  See in general J. Pollini, Book Review, Dietrich Boschung, Die

    

Bildnisse des Augustus, Das romische Herrscherbild, pt. 1, vol. 2.

  

 

2.  See D. Boschung, Die Bildnisse des Caligula.  Deutsches 

.

Archaologisches Institut, Das romische Herrscherbild 1,4 Berlin: 

 

Gebr. Mann Verlag, 1989.  138pp, 52 pls. ISBN 3-7861-1524-9.

 

 DM190.

3. I 7: D. Boschung, Die Bildnisse des Caligula (1989)

 II 1: G. Daltrop - U. Hausmann - M. Wegner, Die Flavier. Vespasian,               

 

Titus,Domitian, Nerva, Julia, Titi, Domitilla, Domitia (1966)

II 2: W. H. Groß, Bildnisse Trajans (1940)II 3: M. Wegner, Hadrian, Plotina, Marciana,

 

Matidia, Sabina (1956) II 4: M. Wegner, Die Herrscherbildnisse in antoninischer Zeit (1940)

III 1: H. B. Wiggers - M. Wegner, Caracalla, Geta, Plautilla, Macrinus bis Balbinus

 

(1971)III 2: R. Delbrueck, Die Münzbildnisse von Maximinus bis Carinus (1940)

4.  See Joe Geranio, "Portraits of Caligula:  The Seated Figure? - Society of Ancient Numismatics, Vol. XX, (1997)

 5.  Just came across a ref. to Caligula wearing a radiate crown: Philo,
/Legatio ad Gaium/ 95. However, I would be careful about the source,
since Philo was a Jewish propagandist and very anti Caligula. This ref.
is in Philo's list of gods that Caligula dressed up as, Philo
intensionally omitting no doubt that these were the costumes Caligula
wore when he performed pantomime in private -- but a great opportunity
for Philo to distort.

The radiate crown he wears on the coinage signifies that he is a
descended from Divus Augustus -- same for Nero, only he could claim
kinship with both Divus Augustus and Divus Claudius.

Princeton University Library Cabinet- Used with Permission-  Note “T” in ET” slightly raised.  With traces of radiate crown on Consensv Dupondius.  I have come across 5 specimens with traces of radiate attribution.  See below close-up.

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