Galba : First of Four Emperors in 69 AD

Dionysos leading the Horae (Seasons), marble, Roman 1st century AD (image public domain)

Today's coins of interest are two tetradrachms of Galba from Roman Egypt. These coins are a window into stories of clashes between armies and men to control the Empire of Rome in the first century AD.

At the end of his reign, emperor Nero vacillated as Gaius Julius Vindex, the governor of the province of Gallia Lugdunensis, rose up—not against Rome, but against Nero himself. Vindex declared his allegiance to Galba.

Gallia Lugdunensis was a sizable region in what is now France, with its capital at Lugdunum, known today as Lyon. Galba, in his early seventies, was an experienced governor from a noble family. He had served under four emperors as the governor of Aquitania, Upper Germany, Africa, and Hispania. However, he had a reputation—at least among some—for avarice, gluttony, and cruelty. Suetonius provides a rather grotesque description of Galba.

"He was of average height, very bald, with blue eyes and a hooked nose. His hands and feet were so distorted by gout that he could not endure a shoe for long, unroll a book, or even hold one. The flesh on his right side too had grown out and hung down to such an extent, that it could with difficulty be held in place by a bandage."
-Suetonius, Life of Galba, 21.1

It is interesting to compare the more favorably portrayed Galba of Suetonius with the Galba of Plutarch:

"But to Galba the imperial title was offered and by him it was accepted; and by simply lending his name to the bold measures of Vindex, he gave to his revolt (as his rebellious agitation was called) the character of a civil war, because it had acquired a man who was worthy to rule."\
-Plutarch, Life of Galba, 29.1

By his inaction, Nero sealed his fate, public pressure grew, and he was soon to be declared a public enemy by the senate and commit suicide. His last words : qualis artifex pereo—“what an artist perishes in me!” - generally taken as the final evidence of his self-delusion. A kinder portrait of Nero is described in this recent Smithsonian Magazine article.

Egypt, Alexandria. Galba, 68-69. Tetradrachm (Billon, 25 mm, 12.72 g, 12 h), RY 1 = 68.

Obv: ΛΟΥΚ ΛΙΒ ΣΟΥΛΠ ΓΑΛΒΑ [ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΑΥ / L Α Laureate head of Galba to right.

Rev: ΡΩΜΗ (Rome), helmeted and cuirassed bust of Roma to right, holding spear in her right hand and shield on her left arm.

Ref: Dattari (Savio) 6678. Emmett 174/1. K&G 17.6. RPC I 5330. Porous and with a scratch on the obverse, otherwise, very fine. From the collection of a Cosmopolitan, acquired before 2005.

Although Galba only reigned for 7 months (June 9, 68 to January 15, 69 CE), the Egyptian year began on August 29th (or 30th for leap years). This coin from Galba's first regnal (A) year was issued between the June 9 and August 29th 68. It is is to me surprising to think that the news could travel so fast and coins start minting so quickly from Gaul to Rome to Egypt. Surprisingly both coins shown today are Rarity Level 1 (the lowest) in Emmett, Keith. Alexandrian Coins. Lodi, WI, 2001.

The relevant entry in Dattari-Savio (6678, and similar coin from the second regnal year (B), 316)

This next coins is from the second regnal (B) year in Alexandria, issued between the end of August and the end of January.

Egypt, Alexandria, Galba, AD 68-69, BI Tetradrachm (24mm, 13.28g, 12h), dated RY 2 (AD 68/69)

Obv: ΣEP OVI ΓAΛBA AVTO KAIΣ ΣEBA, laureate head right; L B (date) below chin

Rev: EIPH-NH, laureate, draped, and veiled bust right of Eirene, caduceus behind right shoulder; simpulum before

Ref: Dattari (Savio) 305

Eirene was the goddess of Peace and one of the Horae, the daughter of Zeus and Themis. Perhaps not surprising that she would be invoked on a coin during this period of transition post-Nero. I found this particular coin to be better than average style of portrait for both Galba and Eirene. Galba looking quite young for a 70+ year old emperor. The simpulum on the reverse as a control device often is shown as a sacrificial implement (a ladle) but would be a common utensil for serving wine as well. Interesting to note that Romans and Greeks would dilute wine with water, sometimes the Romans even used hot water to warm their wine.

69 AD was the year of four emperors. After Galba was murdered by Otho, Otho was emperor for only 3 months 28 April 32 – 16 April 69. Vitellius was emperor for 8 months, 16 April to 22 December 69. Before Vespasian finally took lasting hold of the empire and established the Flavian dynasty.

Here is a tetradrachm of Otho from Antioch:

Selecis & Pieria, Antioch, Otho, 69, AR Tetradrachm dated RY 1 (= 69).

Obv: ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ ΜΑΡΚΟϹ ΟΘΩΝ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ϹΕΒΑϹΤΟϹ, laureate head of Otho to right.

Rev: Eagle with spread wings standing left on wreath, holding wreath in beak; in field to left, palm frond; ЄΤΟΥC A (date) below.

Ref: RPC I, 4200. McAlee 315. Prieur 102.

This is from the next short lived emperor, Vitellius:

Vitellius (AD 69), AR denarius, Rome, May-December AD 69

Obv: A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head of Vitellius right

Rev: PONT MAXIM, veiled Vesta enthroned right, holding scepter and patera

Ref: RIC 107

Vespasian was the fourth emperor in 69 AD and established the Flavian dynasty. In this early portrait of Vespasian he looks a bit like Otho:

Vespasian, AD 69-79, AR Denarius, Rome, January-June AD 70

Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG, laureate head right

Rev: COS ITER FORT RED, Fortuna standing left, resting right hand on prow and holding cornucopiae in left

Ref: RIC 19

Note: these notes were originally published Feb 27th 2021, and update 1/15/2025 with the additional coin from Regnal Year 1 and the Otho tetradrachm.