Schulman b.v.
Auction 365 22 Oct 2020
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AV Aureus 15 Jan.–April 69 AD, OTHO 69 AD Rome. Bare head right IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P. Rev. Securitas holding wreath and sceptre left SECVRI – TAS PR.RIC 9; Coh. 14; BMC 366 note.Otho harbored a personal grudge against Nero after the latter forced him to divorce his wife Poppaea. After supporting Galba in dethroning him it was Otho who was proclaimed emperor after Galba was murdered. His position was weak from the start as already during Galba's reign the troops of Germania Inferior had declared their general Vitellius emperor. According to the contemporary poet Martialis and the 3rd century historian Cassius Dio, Otho committed suicide before the two armies could clash to prevent massive bloodshed.
With only three months of reign his rule was the shortest in the so-called 'Year of the Four Emperors', and his coins are also the scarcest of these four. With a reign as short as a few months an Aureus of this emperor in high grade should certainly command a premium.
Ex. Schulman Vault Collection -> Ex. auction Sotheby's, 21 June 1990, lot 694 (The Nelson Bunker Hunt Collection) -> Ex. auction Numismatic Fine Arts XXX, 8 Dec. 1981, lot 224. From the Boscoreale Hoard of 1895.7.24 g. Small irregularity in the flan. NGC XF. Strike 4 out of 5; Surface 4 out of 5
With only three months of reign his rule was the shortest in the so-called 'Year of the Four Emperors', and his coins are also the scarcest of these four. With a reign as short as a few months an Aureus of this emperor in high grade should certainly command a premium.
Ex. Schulman Vault Collection -> Ex. auction Sotheby's, 21 June 1990, lot 694 (The Nelson Bunker Hunt Collection) -> Ex. auction Numismatic Fine Arts XXX, 8 Dec. 1981, lot 224. From the Boscoreale Hoard of 1895.7.24 g. Small irregularity in the flan. NGC XF. Strike 4 out of 5; Surface 4 out of 5