Rhine Legions. Anonymous, circa May/June-December 68. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.38 g, 12 h), uncertain mint in Gaul or in the Rhine Valley. 'S P Q R Group'. SALVS GENERIS HVMANI Victory standing left on globe, holding wreath in her right hand and palm frond in her left. Rev. S P Q R within oak wreath. BMC 36. CG 97.8 (this coin). Cohen 420. Martin 77. Nicolas 75 and pl. IV, 75 LEU (this coin). RIC 72. Rare. A very attractive piece with an excellent pedigree. Struck slightly off center, otherwise, very fine.


The legend SALVS GENERIS HVMANI translates as 'welfare of mankind', a bold political statement against the tyrant Nero that is likely reflected in Sueton's vita of Galba, where the historian describes how the future emperor first heard of the revolt in Gaul: 'As he [Galba] was holding the assizes at New Carthage, he learned of the rebellion of the Gallic provinces through an urgent appeal for help from the governor of Aquitania; then came letters from Vindex, calling upon him to make himself the liberator and leader of mankind.' (Suet. Galba 9). However, the coins with the corresponding legend were very likely struck by the Rhine Legions, not by Vindex, and the slogan also features prominently on Galba's coinage as Augustus. Sueton, who is not the most reliable of all sources, in hindsight thus probably misinterpreted the numismatic evidence. In any case, the legend would reappear four decades later on coins of Trajan (98-117) and, in the form RESTITVT GENER HVMANI ('restorer of mankind'), once again under Valerian I (253-260).