Another of the short-lived emperors during the Roman civil wars of this period,
Galba was the Governor of Spain at the time of
Nero 's downfall. Coming from a Senatorial background, he was a likely candidate to succeed
Nero from the Senate 's point of view and was thus given the title.
Galba made his way to
Rome where he proceeded to make enemies out of all his former supporters. Most critical among these was his decision to deny the customary donatives to the army on his accession. This bit of ill-will towards the
hands that fed him precipitated a number of events that would eventually lead to his murder.
Otho, another recently disenfranchised governor and former protégé of
Galba 's, gathered an army and set to remove
Galba. For his
part,
Galba reacted to this latest affront by performing another round of purging within the Praetorian Guard and succeeded only in finding them step aside on
Otho 's arrival.
Galba proves to be a tough emperor to acquire. His coins while not particularly
rare are aggressively sought after and this tends to keep bidding competitive. His
Denarii are found in all grades with the worn – but attributable – typically costing around a hundred dollars and going up quickly from there. A
mint state coin will easily cost over a thousand dollars.
This is
still very much the heyday of the big bronze. The three main denominations, the
Sestertius,
Dupondius and As all are available with
Galba 's trademark frowning portrait. As with the
Denarius, an age-battered coin can often be found for under $100 but a well-preserved specimen often well beyond the reach of most collectors ' budgets.
Busts:
1)
Bare head left
2)
Bare head right
3) Bare-headed,
cuirassed bust left
4) Bare headed,
cuirassed bust right
5) Laureate
head left
6) Laureate
head right
7) Laureate, draped and
cuirassed bust right
8) Laureate, draped
bust right
a)
Galba riding horse right, raising hand
b)
Galba riding horse left, raising hand
c)
Hispania laureate, draped
bust right; two javelins and
shield below
Obverses:
1)
GALBA IMP
2)
GALBA IMPER
3)
GALBA IMPERATOR 4) IMP
GALBA 5) IMP
GALBA CAESAR AVG PP
6) IMP SER
GALBA AVG
7) IMP SER
GALBA AVG TR P 8) IMP SER
GALBA AVGVSTVS 9) IMP SER
GALBA CAE
AVG TR P 10) IMP SER
GALBA CAES AVG PM
TR P 11) IMP SER
GALBA CAES AVG
PON M TR P 12) IMP SER
GALBA CAES AVG TR P 13) IMP SER
GALBA CAESAR AVG
14) IMP SER
GALBA CAESAR AVG PM
15) IMP SER
GALBA CAESAR AVG PM
TR P 16) IMP SER
SVLP GALBA CAES AVG TR P 17) IMP SER
SVLPI GALBA CAES AVG TR P 18) IMP SER SVLPIC
GALBA CAES AVG TR P 19) IMP SER SVLPICIVS
GALBA CAESAR AVG
20) SER
GALBA AVG
21) SER
GALBA AVG IMP 22) SER
GALBA CAESAR AVG
23) SER
GALBA IMP
24) SER
GALBA IMP AVG 25) SER
GALBA IMP
AVGVSTVS 26) SER
GALBA IMP CAES AVG
27) SER
GALBA IMP CAES AVG PM
TR P 28) SER
GALBA IMP CAES AVG TR P 29) SER
GALBA IMP
CAESAR AVG PM T P
30) SER
GALBA IMP
CAESAR AVG PM
TR P 31) SER
GALBA IMP
CAESAR AVG PM
TR P PP
32) SER
GALBA IMP
CAESAR AVG PM TR POT
33) SER
GALBA IMP
CAESAR AVG PO MA
TR P 34) SER
GALBA IMP
CAESAR AVG PON MA
TR P 35) SER
GALBA IMP
CAESAR AVG
PONT MAX
TR P 36) SER
GALBA IMP
CAESAR AVG TR P 37) SER
GALBA IMPERATOR 38) SER
SVLPI GALBA IMP CAE AVG PM
TR P 39) SER
SVLPI GALBA IMP
CAESAR AVG PM
TR P 40) SER
SVLPI GALBA IMP
CAESAR AVG TR P 41) SER SVLPIC
GALBA IMP
CAESAR AVG PM
TR P 42) SER SVLPICI GALBAE IMP A
43) SER SVLPICIVS
GALBA 44) SER SVLPICIVS
GALBA IMP AVG 45) SER SVLPIVS
GALBA IMP AVG 46) SERV
GALBA IMP
47) SERVIVS
GALBA IMPERATOR Reverses:
1)
AEQVITAS 2)
AEQVITAS AVGVSTI 3)
AVG IMP 4) BON EVEN
5)
BON EVENT 6)
BONI EVENTVS 7)
CERES AVGVSTA 8) CONCORD AVG
9)
CONCORDIA PROVINCIA
10)
CONCORDIA PROVINCIARVM 11)
DIVA AVGVSTA 12)
FELICITAS AVGVST 13)
FIDES PVBLICA 14)
FORTVNA AVG
15)
GALLIA 16)
GALLIA HISPANIA 17)
HISPANIA 18)
HISPANIA CLVNIA SVL
19) HONOS ET
VIRTVS 20) IMP T
CAES DIVI
VESP F AVG PM
21) IMP T
CAES DIVI
VESP F AVG PM
TR P PP COS
VIII 22) IMP T
CAES DIVI
VESP F AVG REST
23) IMP T
VESP AVG REST
24) LIB AVG
25)
LIBERT AVG
26)
LIBERTAS AVGVS
27)
LIBERTAS AVGVST 28)
LIBERTAS AVGVSTA 29)
LIBERTAS PVBLICA 30)
LIBERTAS RESTITVTA
31)
MARS VICTOR 32)
PAX AVG 33)
PAX AVGVST 34) PAX
AVGVSTA 35)
PAXS AVGVSTI 36)
PIETAS AVGVSTI 37) QVADRAGENS REMISSAE
38) QVADRAGENS VMA REMISSA
39) QVADRAGENS VMAE REMISS
40)
ROMA RENASC 41)
ROMA RENASCEN
42)
ROMA RENASCENS
43)
ROMA RENASCES
44)
ROMA RESTI
45)
ROMA VICTRIX 46)
SALVS AVGVSTA 47)
SALVS AVGVSTI 48)
SALVS GEN HVMANI 49)
SALVS GENE HVMANI
50)
SALVS GENERI HVMANI
51)
SECVRITAS P ROMANI 52)
SENATVS PIETATI
AVGVSTI 53)
VESTA 54)
VICTORIA 55)
VICTORIA IMPERI ROMANI
56)
VICTORIA P R 57)
VICTORIAE GALBAE AVG
58)
VICTORIAE IMP GALBAE AVG
59)
VIRTVS 60)
XXXX REMISSA
61) No
legend Reverses:
1)
Aequitas standing left, holding
scale and
cornucopia.
2)
Aequitas standing right, holding
scale and
scepter 3)
Aesculapius standing, facing, holding thrysus and
scepter with snake coiled around it.
4)
Ceres seated left, holding grain ears and
caduceus.
5)
Ceres seated left, holding grain ears and torch.
6)
Concordia seated left, holding branch and
scepter.
7)
Concordia standing left, holding branch and
cornucopia.
8)
Felicitas standing left, holding
caduceus and
cornucopia.
9)
Felicitas standing left, leaning on
cippus, holding
patera and
cornucopia.
10)
Fides standing left, holding
patera and
cornucopia.
11)
Fortuna standing left, holding rudder and
cornucopia.
12)
Galba riding horse right, raising hand.
13)
Galba seated to right, receiving
Palladium from
Hispania to left, holding
cornucopia.
14)
Galba standing right on platform, accompanied by
lictor, addressing soldiers to lower right.
15)
Galba standing to right, holding hand of kneeling
Libertas;
Roma in background
16)
Galba standing, facing, holding
Victory and branch, being crowned by Senate to right, holding branch.
17)
Gallia to left, holding
scepter, shaking
hands with
Hispania to right, holding
shield and spear.
18) Galliae (3) bare headed, draped busts right; a grain ear in front of each
bust 19) Galliae (3) bare heads right; a grain ear in front of each
bust 20)
Genius standing left, holding
patera and grain ears
21)
Hispania draped
bust right; two javelins and
shield below and behind.
22)
Hispania standing left, holding grain ears and
shield with two spears.
23) Honos standing right, holding
scepter and
cornucopia, facing
Virtus to right, stepping on helmet, holding
parazonium and spear
24)
Legend SC
25)
Legend TR P PP COS
VIIII RESTITVIT within outer
legend and surrounding large SC
26)
Legionary eagle on thunderbolt;
standard on either
side.
27)
Libertas bare head right
28)
Libertas standing left, holding
pileus and
scepter.
29) Livia standing left, holding
patera and
scepter.
30)
Mars standing, facing, holding spear and
trophy.
31) Pax seated left, holding branch and
caduceus.
32) Pax seated left, holding branch and winged
caduceus.
33) Pax standing left, holding branch and
caduceus.
34) Pax standing left, holding branch and
cornucopia.
35) Pax standing left, holding
caduceus and grain ears; globe to left.
36) Pax standing left, leaning on
cippus, holding
caduceus and
cornucopia.
37) Pax(?) standing left, holding branch and
shield.
38)
Pietas standing, facing, raising hand over
altar and touching chest
39)
Roma advancing left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter with
eagle atop
40)
Roma advancing right, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter with
eagle atop.
41)
Roma advancing right, holding
Victory on globe and spear.
42)
Roma seated left, holding spear and
parazonium; weapons on floor
43)
Roma seated left, holding
Victory;
shield to
side.
44)
Roma seated left, holding spear and resting arm on
shield 45)
Roma seated left, resting on
trophy, holding branch and
scepter with
eagle atop.
46)
Roma seated left, holding
Palladium and spear.
47)
Roma standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
scepter with
eagle atop.
48)
Roma standing left, stepping on globe, holding branch and spear.
49)
Salus seated left, holding
patera and
scepter 50)
Salus standing left, stepping on globe, sacrificing over
altar and holding rudder.
51)
Shield over two crossed spears; SPQR laid out with each letter in a cardinal point starting with S in the "West"
52) Soldier to left leading three bound captives through arch to right
53) Standards (3) on galley prows
54) Triumphal arch,
quadriga atop.
55)
Vesta seated left, holding
Palladium and
scepter.
56)
Vesta seated left, holding
patera and
Palladium.
57)
Victory advancing left, holding
Palladium and
palm.
58)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and
palm.
59)
Victory advancing right, holding
wreath and
palm.
60)
Victory standing left on globe, holding
wreath and
palm.
61)
Victory standing on globe, facing, holding
wreath and
palm.
62)
Victory standing right on globe, holding
wreath and
palm.
63)
Victory standing right, holding
shield on
column reading PR
64)
Victory standing right, stepping on helmet, holding
shield on
cippus reading SPQR
65)
Virtus helmeted
bust right
66)
Virtus standing left, holding
Victory on globe and
parazonium 67)
Virtus standing, facing, holding
parazonium and spear.
68)
Wreath,
EX SC / OB / CIVES / SER within.
69)
Wreath,
EX SC / OB / CIVES / SERVATOS within
70)
Wreath,
shield within reading SP QR
71)
Wreath, SPQR / OB / CIV / SER within.
72)
Wreath, SPQR / OB / CIV SER within.
73)
Wreath, SPQR / OB / CIVES / SERVATOS within
74)
Wreath, SPQR / OB / CS within.
75)
Wreath, SPQR / OB CS within
Mints:
1) Karthago
2)
Lugdunum 3)
Roma 4) Spain, uncertain locality (probably
Tarraco)
AU Aureus Reference(s) 1) B2, O06, R60, T75
RIC I 164, C 286
2) B3, O23, R48, T50
RIC I 146, C 232
3) B6, O03, R42, T41
RIC I 2, C 195
4) B6, O13, R11, T29
RIC I 184, BMC 4
5) B6, O13, R48, T50
RIC I 213
corrected 6) B6, O14, R43, T39
7) B6, O30, R60, T74
RIC I 61, BMC 191
8) Ba, O01, R17, T21
AR Denarius 9) B2, O06, R60, T74
RIC I 167, C 287
10) B5, O01, R29, T28
11) B5, O01, R42, T41
RIC I 26
12) B6, O01, R42, T41
RIC I 28, C 209
13) B6, O03, R11, T29
RIC I 36, C 45
14) B6, O03, R40, T41
RIC I 41
15) B6, O03, R45, T48
RIC I 45, C 223
16) B6, O04, R42, T41
RIC I 29, C 209
17) B6, O06, R10, T07
RIC I 149, C 40a
18) B6, O06, R17, T22
RIC I 155, C 82
19) B6, O06, R60, T67 VIR TVS across fields
RIC I 179
20) B6, O13, R10, T29
RIC I 186, C 55
21) B6, O13, R17, T22
RIC I 191
22) B6, O13, R40, T39
RIC I 195
23) B6, O13, R40, T41
RIC I 197
24) B6, O13, R48, T50
RIC I 211
25) B6, O13, R48, T50
RIC I 22, C 238
26) B6, O13, R60, T67
RIC I 221, C 344
27) B6, O14, R10, T29
RIC I 224, C 58
28) B6, O14, R11, T29
RIC I 4
29) B6, O14, R55, T60
RIC I 234
30) B6, O14, R60, T67
RIC I 236, C 343
31) B6, O20, R60, T12 Exe: IMP
RIC I 145
32) B6, O30, R10, T07
RIC I 120, C 38
33) B6, O37, R10, T07
RIC I 49, C 34
34) B8, O13, R43, T47
RIC I 204, C 208a
35) Ba, O24, R60, T19 Exe: TRES
GALLIA RIC I 92, C 308
AE Sestertius 36) B5, O28, R08, T06 Exe: SC
RIC I 381, C 28
37) B5, O36, R29, T28
RIC I 389, C 110
38) B6, O07, R60, T72
RIC I 259, C 302
39) B6, O26, R60, T44 Exe:
ROMA RIC I 420
40) B6, O27, R60, T68
RIC I 435, C 60
41) B6, O28, R28, T28
RIC I 442, C 110
42) B6, O28, R60, T42 Exe:
ROMA RIC I 447
43) B6, O28, R60, T57
RIC I 270, C 256
44) B6, O30, R60, R59
45) B6, O36, R29, T28
RIC I 387, C 108
46) B8, O16, R29, T28
RIC I 309, C 130
47) B8, O18, R29, T28
RIC I 310, C 131
48) B8, O36, R29, T28
RIC I 388, C 112
49) B8, O36, R60, T58
RIC I 403
50) B8, O36, R60, T59
RIC I 398, C 245
51) B8, O36, R60, T72
RIC I 405, C 295
52) B8, O39, R60, T14 Exe:
ADLOCVTIO / SC
RIC I 467, C 2
AE Sestertius (Posthumous) 53) B6, O16, R21, T24 RIC 245 (II,
Titus), C 350
AE Dupondius Reference(s) 54) B6, O07, R29, T28
RIC I 275, C 120
AE Dupondius (Posthumous) 55) B6, O28, R22, T24
RIC I 246, C 351
AE As 56) B2, O12, R29, T27
RIC I 372, C 124
57) B2, O27, R29, T28
58) B2, O40, R60, T53
59) B6, O12, R01, T02
RIC I 491
60) B6, O18, R07, T04 Exe: SC
61) B6, O28, R53, T55
RIC I 308
62) B6, O31, R11, T29
RIC I 67, C 50
63) B6, O40, R01, T02
RIC I 492