COIN (ROMAN)
A silver Roman denarius of Gaius Caligula (AD 37-41) dating to the period c. AD 40 (Reece Period 1), struck in honour of Augustus (Reece Period 1). DIVVS AVG PATER PATRIAE reverse type depicting radiate head of Augustus right. Mint of Lyon. RIC I (2nd edition), p. 109, no. 24.

In RIC the precious metal issues for Caligula are interpreted as having likely been struck initially at Lyon before production shifted to Rome in AD 37, albeit with a large degree of uncertainty, and opposing opinions, as to precisely how or when this move occurred (see RIC I (2nd ed.) p. 102-104). However, K. Butcher and M. Ponting's recent scientific analysis of the early Roman silver has demonstrated that there is no discernible change in production under the Julio-Claudians and that this shift did not occur until the reign of Nero in c.AD 64 (K. Butcher and M. Ponting 'The Metallurgy of Roman Silver Coinage: From the Reform of Nero to the Reform of Trajan' Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014 - for the coinage of Caligula see pp. 187-189 and for the switch in Nero's reign pp. 201-238).
Ruler: Caligula
Denomination: Denarius (Empire)
Material: Silver
Mint: Lugdunum
Mintmark: -/-//-
Obverse: Laureate head right
Obverse legend: C CAESAR [AVG PON] M TR POT III COS [III]
Reverse: Radiate head right
Reverse legend: DI[VVS AVG] PATER PATRIAE
Dated: 40.0 to 40.0
Weight (g): 3.0
Diameter (mm): 17.7
Completeness: Complete
Preservation: Good
Parish: Restricted Access
District: East Riding of Yorkshire
County: East Riding of Yorkshire
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber
Place known as: Near Middleton
Discovery method: Metal detector
RIC reference: ric.1(2).gai.24