Numismatica Ars Classica Zurich

Auctions 97-98  –  12 December 2016

Numismatica Ars Classica Zurich, Auctions 97-98

The America Collection of Roman Coins and the AMP Collection of Roman Numisma...

Mo, 12.12.2016, from 1:00 PM CET
The auction is closed.

Description

The Roman Empire
Galba, 68 – 69. Aureus, Roma July 68-January 69, AV 7.35 g.
Description: IMP SER GALBA AVG Bare head r. Rev. S P Q R / OB C S within oak wreath. References: C 286
BMC 29 (misdescribed in text)
RIC 164
CBN 72
Calicó 509 Condition: Very rare. A bold portrait and a spectacular reddish tone, extremely fine Provenance: Privately purchased from Hubert Herzfelder
UBS sale 78, 2008, 1521
From the Bosco Reale Hoard of 1895 Note: Almost more remarkable than Galba's legacy as an emperor for seven months in 68 and 69 is the life he enjoyed before he claimed the purple. He was among the wealthiest men in the empire, and is said not to have travelled anywhere, not even on a casual afternoon ride, with less than ten thousand gold pieces. Being so wealthy and belonging to a noble family, the Sulplcii, it is not surprising that he held many important posts in Rome and in the provinces, and was a personal acquaintance of the Julio-Claudians. Galba began his association with the Julio-Claudians with a pinch on the cheek from Augustus when he was a child, and thereafter he was a personal acquaintance of the emperors from Tiberius to Nero, whom he overthrew in 68. Agrippina Junior was apparently infatuated with him, and he enjoyed especially close friendships with Claudius and Livia. Suetonius tells us Livia made Galba her principal heir, leaving him 500,000 aurei, but that Tiberius nullified her bequest on a technicality, reducing the amount to only 5,000.

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Price realized 60'000 CHF
Starting price 48'000 CHF
Estimate 60'000 CHF
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