Emperors of Rome. Galba. 68-69 AD. 68-January 69 AD. AV-Aureus
7.26 g. Rome Mint
Obverse: IMP SER GALBA AVG, bare head right
Reverse: S P Q R/ OB C S in two lines within oak wreath
References: RIC I 164; Calicó 509; BMCRE 29-30; BN 72-4; Biaggi 265; Jameson 53; Mazzini 286.
Provenance: Privately Purchased from Sovereign Rarities, October 16, 2020. Ex Provence/Brexit Collection Triton XXIII, January 14-15, 2020, lot 679; V. J. E. Ryan Collection Part IV, Glendining, February 20, 1951, lot 1669; Sir Hyman Montagu Collection, Rollin & Feuardent, April 20-28, 1896, lot 172.
Description: Galba served as Emperor for seven months in 68-69 AD. His reign was not a distinguished one, and was marked by corruption and summary executions. This was surprising from a man who had lived a full and distinguished life prior to his ascension. Galba was of an old and distinguished line, the Gens Sulpicia, and was one of the Empire’s wealthiest men. Galba held numerous important government posts, and was in the inner-circles of many important clans, including the Julio-Claudians. Galba began his association with the Julio-Claudians with a pinch on the cheek from Augustus when he was a child, and was well acquainted with each of his successors. Agrippina Junior was apparently infatuated with him, and he enjoyed especially close friendships with Claudius and Livia. Suetonius tells us Livia made Galba her principal heir, leaving him 500,000 aurei, but that Tiberius nullified her bequest on a technicality, reducing the amount to only 5,000. Prior to ascending to the purple, Galba was Governor of Hispania, and before that, had held governorships in Aquitania and Africa. By the time he ascended, Galba’s best years were behind him, and he suffered from chronic gout and increasing bodily decline. Ultimately, he would be usurped by his erstwhile supporter, Otho, the former governor of Lusitania, who Galba had passed over for adoption as his heir.
Many of Galba's surviving aurei are from Spanish mints which bear portraits of distinctive provincial style. The present aureus was minted in Rome, and so bears a more refined, idealized portrait typical of the Roman mint. The obverse die used to strike this aureus was of particularly fine style, and is surely one of the most artistically pleasing portraits of Galba in gold.
Reverse: S P Q R/ OB C S in two lines within oak wreath
References: RIC I 164; Calicó 509; BMCRE 29-30; BN 72-4; Biaggi 265; Jameson 53; Mazzini 286.
Provenance: Privately Purchased from Sovereign Rarities, October 16, 2020. Ex Provence/Brexit Collection Triton XXIII, January 14-15, 2020, lot 679; V. J. E. Ryan Collection Part IV, Glendining, February 20, 1951, lot 1669; Sir Hyman Montagu Collection, Rollin & Feuardent, April 20-28, 1896, lot 172.
Description: Galba served as Emperor for seven months in 68-69 AD. His reign was not a distinguished one, and was marked by corruption and summary executions. This was surprising from a man who had lived a full and distinguished life prior to his ascension. Galba was of an old and distinguished line, the Gens Sulpicia, and was one of the Empire’s wealthiest men. Galba held numerous important government posts, and was in the inner-circles of many important clans, including the Julio-Claudians. Galba began his association with the Julio-Claudians with a pinch on the cheek from Augustus when he was a child, and was well acquainted with each of his successors. Agrippina Junior was apparently infatuated with him, and he enjoyed especially close friendships with Claudius and Livia. Suetonius tells us Livia made Galba her principal heir, leaving him 500,000 aurei, but that Tiberius nullified her bequest on a technicality, reducing the amount to only 5,000. Prior to ascending to the purple, Galba was Governor of Hispania, and before that, had held governorships in Aquitania and Africa. By the time he ascended, Galba’s best years were behind him, and he suffered from chronic gout and increasing bodily decline. Ultimately, he would be usurped by his erstwhile supporter, Otho, the former governor of Lusitania, who Galba had passed over for adoption as his heir.
Many of Galba's surviving aurei are from Spanish mints which bear portraits of distinctive provincial style. The present aureus was minted in Rome, and so bears a more refined, idealized portrait typical of the Roman mint. The obverse die used to strike this aureus was of particularly fine style, and is surely one of the most artistically pleasing portraits of Galba in gold.