AE As, A.D. 37-38, Rome, 29.8mm, 9.92g, 180°, RIC 138.
Obv: C CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS PON M TR POT. Bare head left.
Rev: VESTA. Vesta enthroned left, patera in right, scepter in left; S C in field.
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Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was Roman Emperor from 37 to 41. The young Gaius earned his nickname Caligula "little boots", from his father's soldiers while accompanying him during campaigns in Germania. Caligula succeeded his uncle Tiberius upon his death in March of 37. Although Tiberius was known to be ill at the time, it was rumored that Caligula and the Prefect Macro killed him.

While surviving records on Caligula's reign are few, it is known that he directed much of his attention to ambitious construction projects. Some were for the benefit of the people; new aqueducts in Rome and the improvement of the harbors in Sicily and Rhegium for example; but they mostly consisted of luxurious dwellings for his own benefit. The first two years of his rule were described as a noble and moderate, after this, sources focus upon his cruelty, sexual perversity, and extravagance, presenting him as an insane tyrant. Among his notoriety: having an entire section of the crowd thrown into an the arena to be eaten by animals because there were no criminals to punish and he was bored; having sexual relations with all three of his sisters, Agrippina the Younger, Drusilla and Livia; turning the palace into a brothel; promising to make his horse, Incitatus, a Consul, and actually suceeding in appointing him as a priest.

He was described as being especially harsh to the Senate and the equestrian order and eventually, the Praetorian Guard and Cassius Chaerea planned an assassination. On 24 January 41, Chaerea and other guardsmen accosted Caligula during a series of games held for the Divine Augustus. Details on the events vary, but they agree that Chaerea was first to stab Caligula, followed by a number of conspirators. Suetonius records that Caligula's death was similar to that of Julius Caesar. In the aftermath, Caligula's wife, Caesonia, and their young daughter, Julia Drusilla were also killed. Caligula's uncle Claudius became emperor after procuring the support of the Praetorian guard.