Galba, 68 – 69. Restitution issue by Trajan. Aureus circa 112-113, AV 7.21 g. GALBA – IMPERATOR Laureate bust r. Rev. IMP CAESAR TRAIAN AVG GER DAC P P REST Libertas standing l., holding pileus and vindicta. C Galba 354 var. (different arrangement of obverse legend). BMC Trajan 701 var. (different arrangement of obverse legend). RIC Trajan 824 var. (different arrangement of obverse legend). CBN Trajan 480 var. (different arrangement of obverse legend). Komnick 63.O. Woytek 860.1. Calicó 522 (these dies).
An extremely rare variety of a very rare type. A bold portrait of fine style struck
on a full flan, about extremely fine

Ex Gorny & Mosch sale 190, 2010, 468. From the collection of a retired banker.

Trajan's restoration aurei are distinct from the denarii of that series not only for their denomination but because they restore coin types of quite different periods that overlap only during the late Republic and the principate of Augustus. While the 50 recorded types of denarii replicate issues from the early Republic through to the reign of Augustus, the 28 known types of aurei restore issues of rulers from Julius Caesar through to Nerva. Due to their different ranges of coverage, the aurei consist mainly of portrait types, whereas the denarii usually bear portraits of deities. Just one reverse type – Libertas standing – was used for Galba; however, there are two variants of the obverse, with the inscription GALBA IMPERATOR being arranged differently in each case. The style of Galba's laureate bust is extraordinary, in keeping with the exceptionally high standards applied to every issue in the series. This shows that some of the mint's most gifted and experienced engravers were given the task of engraving dies for the series. That alone demonstrates that the series was somewhat of a priority in A.D. 112/3, when these coins are believed to have been struck. Though no evidence survives describing who was responsible for creating this series, it is tempting to believe it was Trajan himself, for it would have been yet another impressive domestic project for him to undertake prior to his departure on the Parthian campaign of 114-116.