Pre-Long Beach Auction #80

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. Superb Extremely Fine.

Before becoming emperor, the elderly Galba, governor of Hispania Terraconensis, 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. Hearing that he was in disfavor with Nero and that he would soon be executed, he considered joining the revolt of the governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, 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 Prefect, Nymphidius Sabinus, transferred his allegiance to Galba. Nero, deserted by the Praetorians, was declared a public enemy by the Senate 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 Praetorians the bonus promised in his name by prefect Nymphidius, scorning 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 emperor 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 effect of inciting the hatred of his former supporter, Otho, who had hoped for the honor for himself. Otho plotted his revenge, and five days after Piso's adoption, Praetorian guardsmen in his pay brutally murdered both Galba and Piso.
Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000.