Some Examples of "damnatio" of Caligula's Coins- Joe Geranio

[Joe Geranio]

Most coins of Caligula that I have seen "damanatio memoriae"  The "C" of CCAESAR has been obliterated or chiseled off, or the portrait is damaged on the obverse, there is a growing number of coins with Caligula on obverse and Germanicus on reverse where Germanicus' portrait is being obliterated?      One example below.  The son of Germanicus was the hope of the people of Rome at the beginning of Caligula's reign. (Suetonius).  I am not showing all coins, because I am doing research for later publication, but it is odd that the numismatic evidence shows the obliteration of Germanicus and not Caligula as one would think on precious metals? 



Here are a few examples:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/julio-claudians/4320830990/in/pool-649663@N25
Caligula Sestertius with "C" chiseled off

http://www.flickr.com/photos/julio-claudians/5871074616/in/pool-649663@N25
Caligula Adlocutio Sestertius with "C" Taken of in "CCAESAR"
I have seen at least 8 specimens with the "C" chiseled off.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/antiekpubliek/3853912612/in/pool-649663@N25
Caligula Sestertius with "C" chiseled off


http://www.flickr.com/photos/33198688@N07/3097055250/in/pool-649663@N25
C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT - Laureate head left
ADLOCVT COH - Caligula standing left on a platform, a curule bench behind him, addressing five soldiers holding four standards.
Mint: Rome (ca. 37AD)
A Caligula sestertius with the 'C' in the inscription having been filed away in ancient times. Another 'Memoriae Damnatio'.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/33198688@N07/3097055496/in/pool-649663@N25
NERO ET DRVSVS CAESARES - Statue of Nero and Drusus on horses, galloping right in the manner of the Dioscuri.
C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG P M TR P IIII PP SC - Legend around SC
Mint: Rome (40-41AD) NOTE DATE

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33198688@N07/3096214203/in/pool-649663@N25
C CAESAR DIVI AVG PRON AVG PM TR P III PP - Bare head left.
Mint: Rome (39-40AD)
The obverse of a Caligula 'Vesta' AS with the 'C' in the inscription having been filed away in ancient times. Another 'Memoriae Damnatio'.
A somewhat scarce AS of Caligula, minted 39-40AD. The much more common Vesta AS' are from 37-38AD.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/julio-claudians/275007659/in/pool-649663@N25
Denarius with Caligula and Germanicus- (Germanicus much damage)

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=A%20Small%20Bronze%20Mutilated%20Head%20of%20Gaius%20Caligula-%20Joe%20Geranio
A Small Bronze Mutilated Head of Gaius Caligula- Found in Tiber River

There have also been examples regarding desecration of the "C" in CCAESAR on the Nero and Drusus on horseback dupondii  (RIC I 34 (Gaius). and Germanican AE's (RIC I 35 (Gaius). Also on the "C" on MAT"C"CAESAR on  Agrippina's "memoriae Agrippinae" sestertii-  (RIC I 55 (Gaius), as well as the "C" on the obverse of "three sisters" sestertii - (RIC I 33) and the "C" on the obverse of Adlocutio sestertii issues- RIC I 32.  But as Logic dictates the Caligulan "Vesta" As (RIC 38) issues have had the most "C" in CCAESAR obliterated.

Joe Geranio
Julio Claudian Iconographic Association

[Tacitus]

What is the purpose of chiseling off a single C?

[GRWilson]

To try and erase Gaius Caligula's name from Roman history.