Forces of Galba in Spain. In the name of Divus Augustus, died AD 14. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.45 g, 10 h), uncertain mint in Spain. Group A.VIII, 3 April-2nd half of June 68. AVGVSTVS DIVI F Laureate head of Augustus to right. Rev. IMP XII Bull butting to right, head facing. BMC -. CG 156.1 (this coin). Cohen -. Martin A 17.1 (this coin). Nicolas A14 and pl. XXI, A14 HLE (this coin). RIC 99. Of the highest rarity, the second and by far the finest known example, and the only of this variety. A very attractive coin of charmingly local style, beautifully toned and with an excellent pedigree. An old scrape on the obverse and with some equally old scuffs on the edge, otherwise, good very fine.


This exceptional coin is part of a group of denarii struck in the name of Augustus from dies of very charming local style (see, among others, Nicolas pl. XX, A2 BR1, A2 BR 2, A2 LH, A2 P, A3 BR, A7 V, A9 M, A9 P, and pl. XXI, A13 FRI). A unique coin in Vienna in particular (Nicolas pl. XX, 17 V) is so close in style to ours that its obverse die was almost certainly cut by the same artist. It shows a very similar round head of Augustus with curly hair wearing a trifarious laurel wreath, ending in an equally long neck line with the F of the legend carefully placed below. With their well made flans in solid silver and their 'staring' eyes, these were very probably produced by the forces of Galba in Spain. On the other hand, the conjecture that the bull may refer to the coat of arms of the Legio IV Macedonica, one of the legions rebelling against Nero in the spring of 68, is very unlikely indeed. In reality, the types are simply derived from Augustus' bull coinage from Lugdunum.