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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Roman Coins| ▸ |The Twelve Caesars| ▸ |Galba||View Options:   | | | Galba was governor of Hispania Tarraconensis when he was proclaimed emperor by his troops. The Senate recognized his authority in Jul 68. His avarice, ruthlessness, and refusal to pay a promised donative to the praetorian guards made him unpopular. He was assassinated in a conspiracy plotted by Otho. |
The reverse inscription abbreviates Senatus Populusque Romanus Ob Cives Servatos, meaning "[Awarded by] the senate and the Roman people for saving citizens." The wreath on the reverse is the corona civica, the oak wreath awarded to Roman citizens ex senatus consulto (by special decree of the Senate) for saving the life of another citizen by slaying an enemy in battle. It became a prerogative for Roman emperors to be awarded the Civic Crown, originating with Augustus, who was awarded it in 27 B.C. for saving the lives of citizens by ending the series of civil wars.SL113458. Silver denarius, RIC I 167 (R), RSC I 287, BnF III 76, Hunter I 5, BMCRE I 34 corr. (described as laureate, plate is bare-headed), SRCV I 2109, NGC Ch F, strike 4/5, surface 3/5 (2400513-007), weight 3.43 g, maximum diameter 19 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, c. Aug - Oct 68 A.D.; obverse IMP SER GALBA AVG, bare head right; reverse S P Q R / OB / C S in three lines within oak wreath (corona civica); from a Virginia Collector, ex Eastern Numismatics Inc. (Garden City, NY, 3 Dec 2010, $1485); NGC| Lookup; rare; $1500.00 (€1410.00)
Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D. (or Otho or Galba?), Mallus, Cilicia
In "An intriguing new coin from Mallus, Cilicia" (2008), Jyrki Muona, based on a high grade specimen with an excellent portrait, identified the head on this type as Otho. He noted the portrait is influenced by the style of the Antioch mint. Indeed the portrait on that specimen looks very much like the portraits of Otho from Antioch. RPC I attributes the type to Nero but notes, "The portrait does not look much like Nero, but the date seems clear. Could it possibly be a coin of Galba?" We are following RPC I, listing it as Nero, but noting the other possibilities.RP112383. Bronze AE 25, RPC Online I 4024 (3 spec.), SNG Levante 1269, aVF, dark green patina with traces of red, cleaning scratches, minor flan flaws on rev. edge, weight 9.678 g, maximum diameter 25.4 mm, die axis 0o, Mallus (near Karatas, Turkey) mint, 67 - 68 A.D.; obverse ...CEBACTOC..., laureate head right; reverse MAΛΛΩTΩN, Athena Magarsis standing facing, spear vertical in right hand, star above each arm, EΛP (year 135) outer left; ex CNG e-auction 538 (10 May 2023), lot 413; very rare; $650.00 (€611.00)
The reverse inscription abbreviates Senatus Populusque Romanus Ob Cives Servatos, meaning "[Awarded by] the senate and the Roman people for saving citizens." The wreath on the reverse is the corona civica, the oak wreath awarded to Roman citizens ex senatus consulto (by special decree of the Senate) for saving the life of another citizen by slaying an enemy in battle. It became a prerogative for Roman emperors to be awarded the Civic Crown, originating with Augustus, who was awarded it in 27 B.C. for saving the lives of citizens by ending the series of civil wars.SH37553. Gold aureus, RIC I 164, Cohen I 286, SRCV I 2093, BnF III 72, gF, weight 6.975 g, maximum diameter 20.1 mm, die axis 135o, Rome mint, Aug - Oct 68 A.D.; obverse IMP SER GALBA AVG, bare head right; reverse S P Q R / OB C S in two lines within oak wreath (corona civica); rare; SOLD
Roma was a female deity who personified the city of Rome and more broadly, the Roman state. The earliest certain cult to dea Roma was established at Smyrna in 195 B.C., probably to mark the successful alliance against Antiochus III. In 30/29 B.C., the Koinon of Asia and Bithynia requested permission to honor Augustus as a living god. "Republican" Rome despised the worship of a living man, but an outright refusal might offend their loyal allies. A cautious formula was drawn up, non-Romans could only establish a cult for divus Augustus jointly with dea Roma. In the city of Rome itself, the earliest known state cult to dea Roma was combined with Venus at the Hadrianic Temple of Venus and Roma. This was the largest temple in the city, probably dedicated to inaugurate the reformed festival of Parilia, which was known thereafter as the Romaea after the Eastern festival in Roma's honor. The temple contained the seated, Hellenised image of dea Roma with a Palladium in her right hand to symbolize Rome's eternity.SH37368. Orichalcum sestertius, Kraay Officina D, obverse die A55 (pl. XVIII), new reverse die; BMCRE I 87; BnF III 115; RIC I 240; Cohen I 170 (6 Fr.), VF, weight 25.790 g, maximum diameter 35.1 mm, die axis 180o, Rome mint, 68 - 69 A.D.; obverse SER GALBA IMP CAES AVG, laureate and draped bust right; reverse ROMA S C, Roma seated left on cuirass and two shields, right foot on helmet, spear in right; ex Harlan J. Berk; ex Thomas D. Walker Collection (1980s); excellent portrait; SOLD
Roman Civil War, Vitellius, c. 69 A.D.
This coin is M71 in Butcher, K. & M. Pointing, The Metallurgy of Roman Silver Coinage: From the Reform of Nero to the Reform of Trajan (Cambridge, 2015). There is a tiny drill hole on the edge where silver was extracted for testing. This was an important coin in the study, with test results indicating 93.9% silver bullion and Gallic isotope ratios strongly suggesting similarity with other Vitellius coins from Gallia, not coins minted for Galba.RS86684. Silver denarius, Butcher-Pointing M71 (this coin), RIC I Civil Wars 121, BMCRE I 65, RSC I Galba 363, BnF I 75, Martin 7, EF, toned, tight flan, light corrosion, test drill hole on edge, weight 3.127 g, maximum diameter 17.5 mm, die axis 180o, Southern Gaul(?) mint, c. 69 A.D.; obverse clasped hands, FIDES above, EXERCITVVM below; reverse clasped hands, FIDES above, PRAETORIANORVM curving along the edge below; from the Jyrki Muona Collection, ex Helios, auction 4 (Munich, 14 Oct 2009), lot 270; ex Coll. A. Lynn collection; ex Classical Numismatic Group, auction 54 (14 June 2000), lot 1484; ex P. DeVicci collection; rare; SOLD
Galba, 3 April 68 - 15 January 69 A.D., Parium, Mysia
The capricorn, a symbol of Augustus, was adopted as a symbol of Parium, probably after an Augustan refoundation of the colonia.RP94043. Bronze AE 22, RPC Online I 2267.3 (this coin, 3 specimens), SNG Fitzwilliam 4202, SNG BnF -, SNG Cop -, SNGvA -, BMC Mysia -, VF, the nicest of three known specimens, dark green patina, some legend weak, scratches, spots of corrosion, weight 8.606 g, maximum diameter 22.0 mm, die axis 0o, Parium mint, 3 Apr 68 - 15 Jan 69 A.D.; obverse GALBA CAESAR, bare head of Galba (or Augustus?) right, star below chin; reverse capricorn right, head reverted, cornucopia over shoulder, AVGVSTVS / D D in two lines in exergue; ex CNG mail bid sale 64 (24 Sep 2003), 601; ex Lanz auction 109 (27 May 2002), 334; ex CNG e-auction 456 (13 Nov 19), 286; Coin Archives records only the sale of one specimen in the last two decades - this coin; extremely rare; SOLD
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