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3125
Galba. Silver Denarius (3.47 g), AD 68-69.
Rome, AD 68. IMP SER GALBA
AVG, bare head of Galba right.
Reverse:
S P Q R / OB / C S in three lines
within oak-wreath. RIC 167; BMC 34 corr.; RSC 287. Boldly struck with the
portrait of Galba in high relief. Luster present and all, delicately toned.
Su-
perb Extremely Fine.
Before becoming emperor, the elderly Galba, governor of Hispania Ter-
raconensis, served many years as a capable administrator and military
leader, having previously governed in Gaul, Germany, Africa and Spain,
where he had earned a reputation for strictness and impartiality. Hear-
ing that he was in disfavor with Nero and that he would soon be exe-
cuted, he considered joining the revolt of the governor of Gallia Lugdu-
nensis, Gaius Julius Vindex, who had promised him his support in a bid
for the throne. He hesitated, however, which was probably fateful as
Vindex’s revolt was quickly suppressed, the usurper committing suicide.
The turmoil in Rome continued, and in June AD 68 the Praetorian Pre-
fect, Nymphidius Sabinus, transferred his allegiance to Galba. Nero,
deserted by the Praetorians, was declared a public enemy by the Sen-
ate and committed suicide. Galba promptly took the title of Caesar,
raised a legion, and along with the governor of Lusitania, Marcus Salvius
Otho, quickly marched on Rome where he was welcomed into the city.
Galba’s short reign was unpopular. Fearing conspiracy, he executed
many senators and equites without trial, and he never paid the Praeto-
rians the bonus promised in his name by prefect Nymphidius, scorn-
ing the idea that a soldier’s loyalty could be bought. Additionally, the
Rhine legions were hostile to him - they had expected to be rewarded
for their loyalty to the throne by their actions in suppressing the revolt
of Vindex, but instead were accused of impeding Galba’s path to the
throne. On January 1 AD 69, they refused to swear allegiance to the em-
peror and instead proclaimed their commander, Aulus Vitellius, emperor.
With the Rhine legions in revolt, Galba made the fatal mistake of formerly
adopting Lucius Calpurnius Piso Licinianus as his successor, which had the ef-
fect of inciting the hatredof his former supporter, Otho, who had hoped for the
honor for himself. Otho plotted his revenge, and five days after Piso’s adop-
tion, Praetorian guardsmen in his pay brutallymurderedbothGalbaand Piso.
Estimated Value ..........................................................................$9,000 - 10,000
