80 / 184
1207
Nero. Gold Aureus (7.07 g), AD 54-68. Rome, ca. AD 66/7. IMP NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate
head of Nero right. Rev. IVPPITER CVSTOS, Jupiter seated left, holding thunderbolt and scepter. (RIC
63; WCN 30; BN 231-2; BMC 77; Calicó 413). Mount removed. About fine.
$ 1,000
Extremely Important Galba Denarius from Carthage
1208
Galba. Silver Denarius (3.24 g), AD 68-69. Carthage. SER SVLPICIVS GALBA IMP, bare head of Galba
right. Rev. HIS-PANIA, S C across field, veiled head of Hispania right. (RIC -; BN -; BMC -; RSC -; cf.
Manhattan Sale III, 170 (with IMP AVG)).
Possibly unique Carthage mint denarius of Galba. Of the highest rarity
and of great historical interest.
Toned with some underlying luster. Extremely fine.
$ 20,000
ex NAC 80 (20 Ocotber 2014), lot 75
.
This exceedingly rare denarius - one of just two known specimens - was struck for the ephemeral emperor Galba during the so-called
Year of the Four Emperors, probably at the mint of Carthage, which was then known for employing the S C (
senatus consulto
) legend
on denarii despite its general discontinuation for silver in Rome since ca. 40 BC. Although Mattingly previously suggested that this
usage, familiar from denarii struck during the revolt of Clodius Macer, was designed to assure the senate that Macer’s goal was only
to oppose the debauched reign of Nero, its presence on the denarii of Galba implies sanction by the Senate. The reverse type honors
Hispania, the original center of Galba’s revolt, and it has been suggested that the precise design was inspired by the veiled head on
denarii serrati struck by A. Postumius Albinus in ca. 81 BC.