Galba, 68-69. Denarius (Silver, 19 mm, 3.49 g, 6 h), Rome, July 68-January 69. IMP SER GALBA AVG Bare head of Galba to left. Rev. ROMA RENASC Roma standing front, head to left, holding Victory on globe in her right hand and transverse eagle-tipped scepter in her left. BMC 26. CBN 26. Cohen 201. RIC 160. Rare. Beautifully toned and with a wonderful left-facing portrait, a very attractive coin. A few faint marks, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.



The reverse of this splendid denarius, with the legend ROMA RENASC(ens) (‘Rome rises again’) and the image of the victorious Roma, proclaims the rebirth of the Eternal City after Nero’s tyranny. In so doing, Galba casts himself as the antithesis of his murdered predecessor, the leader who will restore Rome to its former strength and dignity. The imagery is powerful, perfectly suited to Galba’s self-presentation as the champion of traditional Roman virtues.