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Auction 54 11 Jan 2022
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Civil Wars. Silver Denarius (3.29 g), AD 68-69. Group II issue (revolt of Vindex). Videbona, March-May AD 68. SALVS GENERIS HVMANI, Victory standing left on globe, holding wreath and palm. Reverse: S P Q R within oak wreath. RIC 72; AM 77; BMC 34-6; RSC 420. Very Rare. Excellent quality silver and a lovely old cabinet tone. Choice Very Fine. Estimated Value $3,000 - UP
C. Julius Vindex, the senatorial governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, had always had it in for Nero. He had supported the emperor's mother Agrippina the Younger from the outset in her attempts to curb the excesses of the young emperor, but after her murder in AD 59, little remained to hold Nero's desires in check and repress the many flatterers who fanned them. For almost a decade, Vindex watched and stewed as Nero's reign became increasingly problematic until, at last, he had had enough and raised his province in revolt in March AD 68, on the anniversary of Agrippina's death. This was done easily enough since Gaul had been suffering from Nero's tax policies. In an attempt to put down the revolt, Nero ordered L. Verginius Rufus, the governor of Germania Superior, to march against Vindex - an action that ended in disaster for all of the Roman Empire. Fearing the might of the German legions, Vindex sought the support of S. Sulpicius Galba, the governor of Hispania Terraconensis, and recognized him as an emperor to rival Nero. Vindex and his forces were defeated by Rufus at the Battle of Vesontio in May. This technically ended the revolt in Gaul, but the death of Vindex could not stop the events that were now set in motion. Galba continued to claim the imperial title and gained increasing support until Nero committed suicide in June. With his death, the Rome entered the bloody period of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors (AD 69). The present denarius was struck at Vienne (Vindebona) during the Revolt of Vindex, apparently before Galba came into play as a potential rival to Nero, since there is no reference to any emperor here. Instead the obverse features a generic image of Victory and the reverse features a wreath crowning, not a name of a claimant to the imperial purple, but rather the abbreviation S P Q R, naming the Senate and People of Rome. This perhaps suggests that Vindex had initially hoped for a return to republican principles before settling on a replacement for Nero.
C. Julius Vindex, the senatorial governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, had always had it in for Nero. He had supported the emperor's mother Agrippina the Younger from the outset in her attempts to curb the excesses of the young emperor, but after her murder in AD 59, little remained to hold Nero's desires in check and repress the many flatterers who fanned them. For almost a decade, Vindex watched and stewed as Nero's reign became increasingly problematic until, at last, he had had enough and raised his province in revolt in March AD 68, on the anniversary of Agrippina's death. This was done easily enough since Gaul had been suffering from Nero's tax policies. In an attempt to put down the revolt, Nero ordered L. Verginius Rufus, the governor of Germania Superior, to march against Vindex - an action that ended in disaster for all of the Roman Empire. Fearing the might of the German legions, Vindex sought the support of S. Sulpicius Galba, the governor of Hispania Terraconensis, and recognized him as an emperor to rival Nero. Vindex and his forces were defeated by Rufus at the Battle of Vesontio in May. This technically ended the revolt in Gaul, but the death of Vindex could not stop the events that were now set in motion. Galba continued to claim the imperial title and gained increasing support until Nero committed suicide in June. With his death, the Rome entered the bloody period of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors (AD 69). The present denarius was struck at Vienne (Vindebona) during the Revolt of Vindex, apparently before Galba came into play as a potential rival to Nero, since there is no reference to any emperor here. Instead the obverse features a generic image of Victory and the reverse features a wreath crowning, not a name of a claimant to the imperial purple, but rather the abbreviation S P Q R, naming the Senate and People of Rome. This perhaps suggests that Vindex had initially hoped for a return to republican principles before settling on a replacement for Nero.