Galba, 68-69. Denarius (Silver, 18 mm, 3.60 g, 5 h), Rome, July 68-January 69. IMP SER GALBA AVG Head of Galba to right, wearing oak wreath. Rev. HISPA-NIA Hispania standing front, head to left, holding grain ears and poppy in her right hand and Spanish round shield and two spears in her left. BMC -. CBN -. Cohen -, cf. 82 (head laureate). RIC -, cf. 155 (head laureate). Apparently unpublished with oak wreath. Lovely iridescent toning. Struck from slightly worn dies, otherwise, good very fine.



The oak wreath with which Galba is adorned on this unpublished denarius represents a corona civica, the second-highest Roman military decoration, ranking only below the corona obsidionalis graminea. Made of oak leaves, it was awarded to Roman citizens who saved the life of a fellow citizen by slaying an enemy, capturing their armor, and holding the battle line in place of the rescued comrade. Julius Caesar received this honor during the siege of Mytilene in 81 BC, and in imperial times, the corona civica became one of the signa (symbols) of the emperors. This adoption of the corona civica by the emperors was a way to connect the ruler to the republican ideals of virtus (courage) and pietas (duty). The decoration symbolized the protection and well-being of the state, aligning with the emperor’s role as a defender of the Roman people. Thus, it became an important emblem of imperial authority, reinforcing the emperor’s identity as the 'father of the people' and the guarantor of peace and prosperity within the empire.