Forces of Galba in Spain. Anonymous, 3 April-2nd half of June 68. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.73 g, 6 h), uncertain mint in Spain. Group II. GENIO P R Youthful head of the Genius of the Roman people to right; behind, cornucopiae.
Rev. MARTI [VLT]ORI Mars, nude but for helmet and parazonium slung around his chest, advancing right, wielding spear in his right hand and holding shield in his left. BMC 2. CG 45.1 (
this coin). Cohen 384. Martin 34. Nicolas 30. RIC 17. Rare. A splendid piece, beautifully toned, well centered and struck on excellent metal. A few light marks
, otherwise, good very fine.
From the collections of Dipl.-Ing. Christian Gollnow and F.S. Knobloch, Stack's, 1-3 May 1980, 247.
Even within a specific series such as the GENIO P R issue, the stylistic differences in the anonymous civil war coinage struck by the forces of Galba are remarkable. Clearly there are different groups, but whether these reflect artists of a different skill level or differing mints altogether remains unclear. In any case, the style of the present is certainly much finer than that of Group I above and Group III below and reminiscent of the unusually fine coins of the BONVS EVENTVS issue (Group X and lots 1034-1036 below).
