Lot 4800

Description

Agrippa, (died 12 B.C.), posthumous issue struck by Caligula (A.D. 37-41), AE as, (10.93 g), obv. M AGRIPPA L F COS III, head to left wearing rostral crown, rev. S C, across, Neptune standing to left, holding dolphin and trident, (S.1812, RIC 58 (Caligula), C.3). Very dark patina from cleaning and conservation, with minor uneveness, otherwise good very fine and scarce in this condition.

Ex Dr. Adrian Carr Collection and purchased from Old Roman Coins in 2001 with dealer's ticket.
This was struck after Agrippa's death by Caligula. Agrippa was the grandfather of Caligula. Agrippa was a lifelong friend and supporter of Octavian and a talented military strategist. He was the architect of victories over Sextus Pompey at Naulochus in 36 B.C., and over Mark Antony and Cleopatra at Actium five years later. He married Augustus' daughter Julia with whom he had three sons (Gaius, Lucius Caesar and Agrippa Postumus) and two daughters (Julia and Agrippina Senior). Through Agrippina the emperors Caligula and Nero were descended from him. He died from illness in 12 B.C. at the age of 51.
It has been written of Agrippa that 'he is the supreme example in history of a man of the first order whom loyalty constrained to take the second place'. Neptune, lord of the sea, was a moody and violent god. He was called the Earthshaker, for when he struck the ground with his trident, the earth trembled and split open. When he struck the sea, waves rose mountain high and the winds howled, wrecking ships and drowning those who lived on the shores. But when he was in a calm mood, he would stretch out his hand and still the sea and raise new lands out of the water.