Heritage World Coin Auctions
CICF Signature Sale 3032 10-12 April 2014
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Galba (AD 68-69). AV aureus (19mm, 7.34 gm, 6h). Rome, July AD 68-January AD 69. IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG P M, laureate head of Galba right / DIVA AVGVSTA, the deified Julia Augustua (Livia Drusilla) standing left, holding patera in right hand and long vertical scepter in left. RIC 223. BMCRE 12. Cohen 57. Calicó 474 (this coin illustrated). With attractive reddish toning consistent with the Boscoreale Hoard of 1895. NGC (photo-certificate) Choice VF★ 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. From The Andre Constantine Dimitriadis Collection. Ex Stack's (New York, 2-3 December 1997), lot 346; Stack's (10-11 December 1987), lot 3140. Servius Sulpicius Galba was born in 3 BC and soon displayed a gift for cultivating the right friends. During his early manhood, he enjoyed the favor of the emperors Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula, as well as the empress Livia, whose bequest of 500,000 sesterces helped launch his public career. Elected consul in AD 33, he served as governor in Germany and Africa before, late in life, accepting Nero's appointment as proconsul of Nearer Spain. This came as Nero's popularity was plummeting in Rome, and the aristocracy began looking toward the prestige-laden Galba for leadership. In March of AD 68, Vindex, governor of Gaul, rose in revolt and offered to support Galba as the new ruler. Two months later, Nero's regime collapsed and, at the age of 70, Galba found himself hailed as emperor, the first from outside the Julio-Claudian family. He made his way back to Rome and embarked on an austerity program to restore the state's finances. Although meaning well, Galba proved oblivious to the realities of his situation and soon managed to offend nearly every segment of Roman society. Galba attempted to salvage the situation by adopting a likable young aristocrat, L. Calpurnius Piso, as his successor, but this only alienated another key supporter, M. Salvius Otho, who had hoped to be chosen Caesar himself. Otho bribed Praetorian officers, and on January 15, AD 69, they attacked Galba and Piso in the Forum, hacking them to pieces. His entire reign has lasted seven months and proved only the opening act in the disastrous "Year of the Four Emperors." The historian Tacitus pronounced Galba's epitaph: "It was commonly agreed he possessed the makings of a great ruler- had he never ruled."Galba's gold coins are quite rare and display considerable artistry in realistically depicting his craggy, scowling mien. The reverse of this attractive aureus depicts Galba's early supporter and financial benefactor, the Empress Livia.
Estimate: 15000-18000 USD
Galba (AD 68-69). AV aureus (19mm, 7.34 gm, 6h). Rome, July AD 68-January AD 69. IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG P M, laureate head of Galba right / DIVA AVGVSTA, the deified Julia Augustua (Livia Drusilla) standing left, holding patera in right hand and long vertical scepter in left. RIC 223. BMCRE 12. Cohen 57. Calicó 474 (this coin illustrated). With attractive reddish toning consistent with the Boscoreale Hoard of 1895. NGC (photo-certificate) Choice VF★ 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. From The Andre Constantine Dimitriadis Collection. Ex Stack's (New York, 2-3 December 1997), lot 346; Stack's (10-11 December 1987), lot 3140. Servius Sulpicius Galba was born in 3 BC and soon displayed a gift for cultivating the right friends. During his early manhood, he enjoyed the favor of the emperors Augustus, Tiberius and Caligula, as well as the empress Livia, whose bequest of 500,000 sesterces helped launch his public career. Elected consul in AD 33, he served as governor in Germany and Africa before, late in life, accepting Nero's appointment as proconsul of Nearer Spain. This came as Nero's popularity was plummeting in Rome, and the aristocracy began looking toward the prestige-laden Galba for leadership. In March of AD 68, Vindex, governor of Gaul, rose in revolt and offered to support Galba as the new ruler. Two months later, Nero's regime collapsed and, at the age of 70, Galba found himself hailed as emperor, the first from outside the Julio-Claudian family. He made his way back to Rome and embarked on an austerity program to restore the state's finances. Although meaning well, Galba proved oblivious to the realities of his situation and soon managed to offend nearly every segment of Roman society. Galba attempted to salvage the situation by adopting a likable young aristocrat, L. Calpurnius Piso, as his successor, but this only alienated another key supporter, M. Salvius Otho, who had hoped to be chosen Caesar himself. Otho bribed Praetorian officers, and on January 15, AD 69, they attacked Galba and Piso in the Forum, hacking them to pieces. His entire reign has lasted seven months and proved only the opening act in the disastrous "Year of the Four Emperors." The historian Tacitus pronounced Galba's epitaph: "It was commonly agreed he possessed the makings of a great ruler- had he never ruled."Galba's gold coins are quite rare and display considerable artistry in realistically depicting his craggy, scowling mien. The reverse of this attractive aureus depicts Galba's early supporter and financial benefactor, the Empress Livia.
Estimate: 15000-18000 USD