Roman Imperial: Galba (AD 68-69). AV aureus (20mm, 7.03 gm, 7h). NGC VG 3/5 - 3/5....

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Galba (AD 68-69). AV aureus (20mm, 7.03 gm, 7h). NGC VG 3/5 - 3/5. Rome, July AD 68-January 69. IMP SER-GALBA AVG, bare head of Galba right / S P Q R / OB C S, legend in two lines within oak wreath. Calicó 509. RIC I 164. Pleasant, reflective surfaces.

From the Siesta Key Collection.

Servius Sulpicius Galba was born in 3 BC, and early on 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 15 January 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."

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