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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Roman Coins| ▸ |The Twelve Caesars| ▸ |Otho||View Options:   | | | Otho came to power after the murder of Galba in the Year of Four Emperors, 68 - 69 A.D. Otho supported Galba's revolt against Nero, in the expectation he would be named heir, but the old soldier instead named Calpurnius Piso. Otho, angered by this, conspired against them and put them both to death after being declared emperor. After a minor defeat by the forces of Vitellius, Otho committed suicide. This was perhaps the only noble act of his life - he preferred to die rather than see more blood shed in civil war. |
The BMC specimen, acquired in 1867, was identified as a modern forgery after it was found to share an obverse die with a fake aureus. RIC does not list the type, noting the BMC forgery and stating the type needs confirmation. Quite a few clearly genuine examples have been offered on the market in recent years. This coin has been authenticated by Jyrki Muona, a collector and expert numismatist specializing in the coinage of Otho.
An example of this type, graded NGC AU* 5/5 - 4/5, but with a pitted reverse clearly inferior to this coin's, sold for $22,000 plus fees at the Heritage New York Signature Sale 3030 (6 January 2014).SH68896. Silver denarius, BnF III 25, RSC II 11, BMCRE I 9 (BM specimen condemned as a modern forgery), RIC I -, SRCV I -, Superb EF, light toning on luster, good strike with fresh dies but very highest points a little weak, weight 3.614 g, maximum diameter 19.7 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 9 Mar - 17 Apr 69 A.D.; obverse IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, bare head right; reverse PONT MAX (high priest), Ceres standing left, stalks of grain in right hand, cornucopia in left hand; from the Jyrki Muona collection; very rare; SOLD
Aurei of Otho are likely the hardest to get in the "12 Caesars" gold series. If you are building a 12 Caesars set and this coin is not quite up to your standard, please keep in mind that when you replace it you can return it to Forum for the full purchase price, less a $10 restocking fee, in store credit. This can be a low cost hole filler.
The Victory reverse anticipated victory in the war with Vitellius. But after a minor defeat, Otho committed suicide. This was perhaps the only noble act of his life - he preferred to die rather than see more bloodshed in civil war.SH37554. Gold aureus, RIC I 13 (R3), BnF III 18, Cohen I 26, SRCV I 2153, Hunter I -, F, ex-jewelry, polished, holed and plugged, tooled, weight 7.013 g, maximum diameter 20.0 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, Jan - Feb 69 A.D.; obverse IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, bare head right; reverse VICTORIA OTHONIS, Victory advancing right, wreath in right hand, palm frond over shoulder in left; very rare; SOLD
With this coin Otho claimed there was peace all over the world. It was true that at the time it was struck there was peace along all the borders of the empire, which was a rare event because Rome was almost always engaged in some war with the nations and tribes that surrounded it. It was, however, an absurdity, in the midst of a civil war within the borders, to acclaim peace on the borders as peace all over the world.SH72949. Silver denarius, RIC I 6 (R), RSC II 5, BMCRE I 4, SRCV I 2156 var. (head right), BnF III 3 var. (same), Hunter I 2 var. (same), VF, excellent portrait, attractive toning, some marks, some light corrosion mostly near rim, weight 3.290 g, maximum diameter 19.2 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 2nd issue, late Jan - Feb 69 A.D.; obverse IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, bare head left; reverse PAX ORBIS TERRARVM (All the World at Peace), Pax standing left, olive branch in right hand, caduceus in left; from the Jyrki Muona Collection, ex Moruzzi, Italy (1997) with their Italian export certificate of authenticity and provenance; one of the rarest coins of Otho, only 7/1000 coins in Jyrki Muona's Otho die study; extremely rare; SOLD
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