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This ancient bronze and about a dozen others – mostly in museums - comprise the only issue bearing the lone bust of Julia Livilla (17/18 – 42 AD), the youngest daughter of Agrippina Sr. and Germanicus. After the sudden death of her father, Livilla grew up under the care of great-grandmother Livia and paternal grandmother Antonia Minor. When she came of age around 33 AD, Livilla married a politician named Marcus Vinicius per the wishes of her adoptive grandfather, Emperor Tiberius. Such important family connections aside, Livilla's most notorious relationship was with her bother Caligula.
Widely described as acts of an insane tyrant, Caligula’s behavior can be alternately viewed through the lens of his obsession with Egypt and the Ptolemaic dynasts, whose custom was co-rule by brother and sister. The Ptolemaic rulers also had a custom of promoting their clan, including portrayals on coinage. Regardless of his motivation, Caligula famously honored his relatives, both deceased and living, including coins featuring his sisters Julia Livilla, Julia Drusilla, and Agrippina the Younger.
Livilla's strikes are very few in number, and all are quite scarce. This particular issue traces back to 37-39 AD and the provincial mint of Mytilene, located on the island of Lesbos, Livilla’s birthplace. The design is notable in that Livilla’s portrait takes front billing, whereas the Emperor is relegated to the verso. Therein, Caligula’s togate form appears
capite velato, or with a covered head, and he holds a patera, a broad shallow dish used for pouring libations. The motif clearly emphasizes Caligula’s piety, an intriguing paring with sister Livilla’s portrait.
If ancient historians (e.g., Suetonius) are to be believed, Caligula’s numerous sexual partners included his sisters, although in Livilla’s case, the Emperor took greater pleasure in prostituting her to his friends. The accuracy of these accounts notwithstanding, Caligula was especially fond of Drusilla, and he fell into deep despair upon her death in 38 AD. It must have been a scary situation for Livilla and Agrippina, who at that time grew so desperate as to resort to plotting against their brother. Caligula learned of the alleged plot, and exiled Livilla and Agrippina in response.
The following year, the Praetorians murdered Caligula and replaced him with the next logical candidate (at this point, the list of male Julio-Claudian dynasts was growing quite thin), namely Claudius. The latter was uncle to Livilla and Agrippina, and after his ascension he recalled his two nieces back to Rome. Agrippina staged a successful comeback to the extent that Claudius selected her to be his fourth wife. Livilla, however, did not fare as well. Claudius had no further use for Livilla, and thus she was exiled a second time, and later executed.
Evidence suggests that Livilla was eventually rehabilitated. Evidently, her ashes were returned to Rome, placed within a precious vase of oriental alabaster, and inurned within the Mausoleum of Augustus. The restorer of Livilla’s memory was likely Empress Agrippina, echoing the familial devotion practiced by Caligula.
Additional Reading: G. Ferrero,
The Women of the Caesars, Chapter V: The sisters of Caligula and the marriage of Messalina, 1911.
Coin Details: LESBOS, Mytilene, Julia Livilla, AD 17/18-42, Æ (18mm, 6.23 g, 1h), Struck under Gaius (Caligula), 37 - 39 AD, NGC Grade: Ch F, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5, Obverse: Draped bust left, IOYΛIAN NEAN ΓEPMANIKOY, Reverse: Caligula standing left, with toga drawn up over head (capite velato), holding patera, Γ KAICAPA CEBACTON / M-Y/T-I in two divided lines low in field, References: RPC I 2348; Vagi 576; SH74029; SNG Fitzwilliam 4387; Trillmich pl. 14, 1; Cohen I 1; BMC Troas -.