All the denarii from the civil wars of 68-69 are rare, some are exceedingly rare. I was able to add the second known RIC 12 example to my collection this week. Civil Wars RIC 12 Civil Wars 68-69 CE. AR Denarius (17.50 mm, 3.39 g). Spanish mint, April-June 68 CE. O: BONI EVENTVS, Female bust right, wearing fillet; hair rolled and looped above neck R: VICTORIA P R, Victory standing left on globe, holding wreath in right hand and palm in left - BMCRE I 292 Note + Taf 50.2; P.-H. Martin, the anonymous coins of the year 68 AD (1974) 82 # 99 PL 9; E. P. Nicolas, De Néron à Vespasien (1979) 1308 No. 31; 1435 f 1456 # 107 Taf 14.107 B; RIC I² Nr. 12 (Spain, 68 n. Chr.). The second known. All references given are to one example found in Münzkabinett Berlin. The civil wars at the end of Nero’s reign began with the revolt of the governor of Gallia Lugdunensis, Gaius Julius Vindex, probably around the beginning of March of AD 68. Vindex had claimed that he had a force of 100,000 men, and a substantial coinage was certainly needed to pay them. Vindex offered the leadership of the revolt to Servius Sulpicius Galba, then governor of Hispania Tarraconensis, who was hailed imperator by the Spanish legions at Carthago Nova in April of the same year. The title was cautiously refused, but Galba did declare himself the legatus of the senate and people of Rome. Just a month later, Galba’s confidence would be shaken by the crushing defeat of Vindex near Besançon by the general Lucius Verginius Rufus, governor of Germania Superior. By 9 June Nero was dead, having taken his own life. Galba began his march to Rome, and his brief reign was underway. Without an emperor to strike in the name of (save for that in honor of the “model emperor” of Roman history, Augustus) the coinage was struck with messages suiting the political climate. The coinage under Vindex possesses a more aggressive air that underscores the militant nature of his revolt, while Galba’s tends to be more constitutional and optimistic in tone. Originally struck in large numbers, as indicated by the number of types employed, the coins of the civil wars are all rare today, having been recalled after the final victory of Vespasian in 69 AD. - CNG
Like TIF, I know little about the coin issues of this period. However, this looks like a wonderful find. Congrats.
This is very interesting. However, I am not familiar with Civil War denarii. Through 68-69 CE were the Emperors Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. Are you referring to denarii struck under these emperors, or other independent mintages? Provincials? Looks like Vindex had coinage! - What other Usurpers / Imperators had coinage? Wow, kinda like collecting the Marsic Confederation denarii from the Social War of 91-88 BCE...
Wow @Nemo That is a great coin. My interest in the civil wars coinage has grown in the last few months. There is a nice one on the Forvm shop that I have looked at several times. I am also interested in the Augustus fourrees from this period. What a great addition to your collection. Congrats!
Thanks for the kind words, many would be hard pressed to find a reason to love this piece. @Alegandron, whether you believe Vindex was nobly looking to rescue the Romans from a lunatic emperor or perhaps beginning a national movement for Gallic independence, he is certainly an interesting character. I'm no expert on the Civil Wars denarii but I believe the anonymous types were struck by Vindex, Galba and Vitellius. @Orfew, I know the one you're talking about, it's a nice piece. I wish they weren't so hard to come by. Evidently Vespasian did an excellent job collecting and melting them down!
Wonderful addition @Nemo !!! I only had the vaguest idea what the 'anonymous' civil wars coins were.... Thanks for the info and the coin post ...and Dang you to Hades for bringing up another coin I have to place on my wish-list
Thanks! I will have to brush up on the history! That is a GREAT denarius! And now you have piqued my fascination for this area... I generally collect Roman BCE, but I can foray into history under 100 CE.
Very nice denarius! I find the year of four emporers to be fascinating. Four fairly different governors deciding or being picked to all try for the throne makes for an interesting time.
Thanks again for all the kind words but don't feel obliged to bid against me when another one comes up! I find the year of the four emperors fascinating. The basic politics haven't changed in 2000 years since.
I am currently reading Grant's Twelve Caesars and the sections on the four emperors are fascinating. As for the politics "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose"
@Orfew, Grant's Twelve Caesars has been on my want list for a while, maybe it's time to pick it up! @vespasian70, I'm glad you like it! Earlier I failed to mention an ultra-rarity of the Civil Wars, the denarii of Clodius Macer. Macer was the propraetorian legate of the Legio III Augusta based in Numidia, North Africa. His are not the anonymous types, some even have his portrait on them. He was killed by Galba and his coins melted down to finance Galba's troops. These will set you back somewhere around 5 or 6 digits at a major auction house. Of course, when they come up on eBay, you can get them for a couple hundred bucks!
