weight 23,79gr. ; orichalcum Ø 33mm.

obv. Laureate head of Galba right,
around the tekst; IMP SER GALBA CAES AVG TR P
rev. Concordia, draped, seated left on throne, holding olive-branch
in right hand and sceptre in left, around the tekst; CONCORD AVG,
S - C across lower field

♦ An impressive portrait of the old senator and general Galba ♦

Cohen 22 ; RIC 341 ; BMC 58 ; Sear - (cf. 2115) R
Planchet fault on the obverse. Good portrait. Rare.
vf

weight 3,37gr. ; silver Ø 19mm.

obv. Galba on horseback galloping left, his right hand extended
and trailing behind him, above GALBA IMP
rev. Draped buste of Hispania right, two spears and shield
behind and below, two corn-ears before, HISPANIA in front

This cointype with Galba on horseback left and with HISPANIA written
downwards seems to be unpublished. It is a combination of the obverse die
of RIC 3 with the reverse die of RIC 1. Possibly unique and of the highest rarity.

Cohen- (cf.77) ; RIC- (cf.1 & 3) ; BMC- (cf.162) RRRR
about vf

weight 13,73gr. ; orichalcum Ø 27mm.

obv. Laureate head of Galba right, surrounded by the legend;
IMP SER GALBA CAE AVG TR P
rev. Pax standing facing, head to left, holding olive-branch in right hand
and cornucopiae in left, S - C across fields, surrounded by the legend;
PAX AVGVST

Cohen 156 ; BMC 123note ; RIC- (cf. 368 and 370) ; Sear - (cf. 2129) RR
Very attractive bold portrait. Brown patina.
vf+

weight 9,35gr. ; copper Ø 29mm.

obv. Laureate head left, small globe at the point of the truncation
SER GALBA IMP AVGVSTVS
rev. Triumphal arch surmounted by two equestrian statues left
QVADRAGEN REMISSAE S C

There are asses known with this legend, but not with this reverse.
Unpublished and probably UNIQUE.

Cohen - (cf.165-166) ; RIC- (cf.79) ; BMC- (cf.205) ; Sear- (cf.2136) RRRR
f+ à f/vf

weight 23,51gr. ; orichalcum Ø 33mm.

obv. Laureate head of Galba right, surrounded by the legend;
IMP SER GALBA CAES AVG TR P
rev. Roma, helmeted, in military dress, standing at angle to left, holding
Victory in right hand and spear in left, RO - MA / S - C across fields

Cohen- (cf.189) ; RIC (cf.358) ; BMC 81 RR
some tooling, otherwise attractive and very rare coin with dark patina and good portrait
about vf

weight 3,23gr. ; silver Ø 19mm.

obv. Laureate head of Galba right, surrounded by the legend;
IMP GALBA
rev. SPQR / OB / S C in oak-wreath (Corona Civica)

The Corona Civica was originally a military honour bestowed upon a Roman who had saved a fellow citizen′s life in battle. It was one of the greatest public honours. In the imperial era the honour developed from a coveted military decoration into an imperial emblem granted by the Senate to the emperor. The wreath was made of oak leaves and is sometimes called a corona quercea after the common name for the oak. Plutarch believed the oak was chosen for this highest of honours for several reasons. The tree was easily found throughout the countryside and was quite convenient for fashioning a wreath when the need arose. Also, the oak is sacred to Jupiter and Juno and thus was an appropriate symbolic honour given to one who has saved the life of a fellow Roman citizen. Finally, the early settlers of Rome, the Arcadians, were nicknamed ′acorn-eaters′ in an oracle of Apollo.

Cohen 285 ; RIC 166 ; BMC 33 ; Sear 2109var. R
Well centered specimen with attractive portrait. Rare.
vf

weight 1,59gr. ; silver Ø 14mm.

obv. Laureate head of Galba right, surrounded by the legend;
SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG PM T P
rev. Victoria standing right on globe, holding wreath and palm,
surrounded by the legend; VICTORIA GALBAE AVG

This remarkable revival of the half-denarius or quinarius, the first issue of the denomination since early in the principate of Augustus (25-23 BC), anticipates the resumption of limited production of the silver quinarius under the Flavian emperors. Rare.

Cohen 317 ; RIC 132 ; BMC 244 ; Sear 2112 R
Attractive example of this rare coin type.
vf/vf-

weight 3,52gr. ; silver Ø 18mm.

obv. Laureate, cuirassed and draped bust of Galba right,
around the tekst; SER GALBA IMPERATOR
rev. Victory standing facing, head left, on globe, holding wreath in
extended right hand, cradling palm frond in left arm,
VICTORIA on left,  P • R on lower right
(Victoria Populi Romani = Victory of the Roman People)

This very rare denarius is from a small group of coins struck in Narbo mint in Gaul after Galba′s salutation as imperator on 2 April 68 AD. As later issues from the same mint have his title augustus and follow the development of his titulature in Rome, it is likely that this particular coin is from an issue prior to his official assumption of the title in mid-June AD 68.

In contrast to his Spanish mints, coinage from this Gallic mint exhibit a larger, more refined bust with wonderful personalized features. The die engravers here certainly had a superior model for their portrait than was available in Spain. The reverse types correspond to those used in Galba′s Spanish mints, continuing the propaganda of his spreading, successful revolt against the hated Nero. Here, the time-honored type of Victory is presented in the hope of a successful conclusion to this endeavor on behalf of the Roman populace.

Cohen - (cf. 322) ; RIC 112 ; BMC - (cf. 227bis) ; Sear - (cf. 2110) RR
vf-/vf

weight 3,13gr. ; silver Ø 19mm.

obv. Laureate and draped bust of Galba right,
surrounded by the legend; IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG
rev. Victory advancing left on globe, holding wreath in
extended right hand, cradling palm frond in left arm,
VICTORIA on the left,  P R on the right 

Victoria Populi Romani = Victory of the Roman People.

Cohen 328 ; RIC 217 ; BMC 49 ; Sear 2110  R
Attractive specimen with good portrait. Rare.
xf-

weight 3,19gr. ; silver Ø 18mm.

obv. Laureate and draped bust of Galba right,
around the text; IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG
rev. Victory advancing left on globe, holding wreath in
extended right hand, cradling palm frond in left arm,
VICTORIA on left,  P R on lower right
(Victoria Populi Romani = Victory of the Roman People)

Cohen 328 ; RIC 217 ; BMC 49 ; Sear 2110  R
Attractive coin with good portrait and appealing tone. Rare.
vf à vf+

weight 3,20gr. ; silver Ø 19mm.

obv. Draped bust of Otho, bare, with wig right, around the text;
IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P
rev. Pax, draped, standing left, holding branch in right hand and
caduceus in left, around the text; PAX ORBIS TERRARVM

The legend on this coin, struck during te Civil War, is very political and means
"peace in the whole world".

In general a draped bust for Otho is highly unusual. This denarius type is only known with bare head right with rarely only a light drapery over the left shoulder, but not with full drapery like on this specimen. It is not published in the relevant reference literature. Extremely rare.

Cohen - (cf. 3) ; RIC - (cf.4) ; BMC- (cf. 3) ; Sear- (cf. 2156) RRRR
f/vf

weight 3,53gr. ; silver Ø 19mm.

obv. Bare head of Otho with wig right,
surrounded by the legend; IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P 
rev. Ceres, draped, standing left, holding two corn-ears in right hand
and cornucopia in left, surrounded by the legend; PONT MAX

The specimen referenced in BMC was found to be counterfeit. Since the authors of RIC I (2nd edition) have not found other specimens elsewhere, they decided not to include this coin in RIC I. However, this denarius proofs that the type does exist. Cohen was right. Very rare.

Cohen 11 ; RIC - (cf. 20 = aureus) ; BMC 9 ; Sear - RR
Some very minor scratches. Attactive toning.
vf

weight 3,31gr. ; silver Ø 19mm.

obv. Bare head of Otho with wig right,
around the tekst; IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P
rev. Securitas, draped, standing left, holding wreath in right hand and sceptre in left,
around the tekst; SECVRITAS P R

Denarii of Otho are usually very worn and hard to find in a high grade condition.
This coin is in an exceptional high state of preservation, with excellent details.

Cohen 17 ; RIC 8 (R2) ; BMC 18 ; Sear 2163var. RR
(cf. NAC, Auction 62, no. 2016 in xf : CHF 14.000 + 17.5%)
xf-

weight 3,05gr. ; silver Ø 19mm.

obv. Laureate head of Vitellius right, surrounded by the legend;
A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P
rev. Libertas, draped, standing front, head right, holding pileus
in right hand and rod in left, surrounded by the legend;
LIBERTAS RESTITVTA

Lucan, writing the later part of his epic in defiance of Nero′s tyranny, observed that ever since the battle of Pharsalus there had been afoot a conflict between liberty and Caesar, and Tacitus remarked that prior to Nerva the Principate and freedom were incompatible. It is a well-known fact that the Julio-Claudian and Flavian emperors had from time to time to face an opposition varying in form and intensity. After Caligula′s assassination Libertas was the watchword of those who attempted to abolish the Principate; some of Nero′s victims died with the name of Iuppiter Liberator on their lips; and after Nero′s downfall Libertas Restituta (′Freedom Restored′) became a popular slogan. It seems therefore that in some form or other freedom and the Principate clashed, and, in a way, Tacitus′s historical writings, particularly the Annals, were perhaps conceived and executed as the story of that struggle. But while the conflict between the Principate and libertas under the emperors from Tiberius to Domitian appears to have been a fact, it is by no means clear what was the nature of that conflict.

♦ an amazing portrait of Vitellius ♦

Wonderful specimen with excellent details and attractive toning.
Very rare in this high state of preservation.

Cohen 47 ; RIC 105 ; BMC 31 ; Sear 2198var.  R
xf+/xf

weight 3,46gr. ; silver Ø 18mm.

obv. Laureate head of Vitellius left, globe at point of neck,
palm in front, surrounded by the legend; A VITELLIVS IMP GERMAN
rev. Victory, draped, advancing right, holding shield inscribed S P Q R
in right hand, surrounded by the legend; VICTORIA AVGVSTI

Cohen 101 ; RIC 36 ; BMC 94 ; Sear 2191 R
Remarkable portrait of Vitellius
Some minor scratches. Attractive toning. Rare.
vf

weight 3,10gr. ; silver Ø 18mm.

obv. Laureate head right, surrounded by the legend;
A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P
rev. Victoria seated left, holding patera and palm

Sear 2202 ; Cohen 117 ; RIC 110 ; BMC 41 R
Very attractive coin, with a wonderful portrait. 
xf-/vf

weight 3,07gr. ; silver Ø 17mm.

obv. Laureate head of Vitellius right, around the text;
A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P
rev. Confronted bare-headed busts of Vitellius′ son and daughter,
around the text; LIBERI IMP GERM AVG

The young son and daughter of Vitellius and Galeria Fundana are depicted on several issues of aurei and denarii from the mint of Rome. During the reign of Otho the children remained in the capital and were treated with respect by Vitellius′ rival for imperial power. The young Vitellius is reported to have suffered from a serious speech impediment. Following the Vitellian victory at Bedriacum he joined his father at Lugdunum, the whole army being ordered to march out to meet him. On this occasion Vitellius, holding the youngster in his arms wrapped in a general′s cloak, bestowed on him the cognomen Germanicus. Soon after the downfall and death of Vitellius the unfortunate boy was executed on the orders of Vespasianus′ general Caius Licinius Mucianus (early 70 AD). His sister Vitellia was spared and was even given a dowry by Vespasianus.

provenance; found in the Netherlands with a metaldetector in the village of Wely.

Cohen 4 ; RIC 101 ; BMC 28  RR
some minor scratches
vf- à f/vf