Galba is my favorite emperor, did is my collection: Galba As securitas with dapery bust My first coin Galba Roma my second one a sestertius I thinking about to buy this one What do you all say pass of go for it price is 600euro. i like the bust. i dont know what have they done with it, is the color patina of some heavy cleaning. coin info: Catalogus: RIC - (vgl. 267). Materiaal: Brons Gewicht: 21,80 g SER GALBA IMP - CAES AVG. Büste mit Eichenkranz und Paludament rechts. Rs: S P Q R / OB / CIV SER in schmalem Eichenkranz. RIC - (vgl. 267). C. - (vgl. 289). BMC - (vgl. S. 327 Anm. +). CBN -. ACG 274 corr. (A 63/P 49). thanks Galba coins are welcome!
I think Galba would be an interesting emperor to specialise in if so inclined. Those would be nice coins to start with!
I really like the portrait on the third galba and would go for it. It is hard to say how much it has been cleaned. I have seen many coins where one side was fairly clear and the other is heavily patinated or encrusted. The reverse of that may clean up to reveal nice details or it may be heavily corroded underneath. The thick patina comes from the metal of the coin corroding making the second possibility more likely.
One of my favorite emperors as well, at least numismatically. He was an efficient administrator and a good soldier, but was not politically-savy and a bit awkward in his actions which contributed no doubt to his early demise. His coinage is very appealing, however, and some of his portraits i.m.o among the best in Roman coinage. Some examples from my collection: Galba Sestertius: ''SPQR / O.B / CIV.SER'' in Wreath Galba AS: ''SPQR / O.B / CIV.SER'' in Wreath Galba denarius: ''SPQR / O.B / CS'' in Wreath
Thank you Orfew, Thank you ro1974 for your comments. Ro, I forgot to answer your question concerning whether to pass or buy on that sestertius: In my opinion it has a nice portrait, but the reverse is not: the reverse on this type is often weakly struck (like mine). In addition, the reverse on that coin seems already quite worn, PLUS we do not know what is the condition of the surface underneath all the deposits? Like Theodosius says, it may be corroded underneath. It's a bit risky, and at 600 euros it is not exactly cheap. My personal advice is that can you can find a better example for that amount.
Nice coins @ro1974. Galba does have a distictive portrait. Rather "bulldogish" looking. Here are mine
Really cool and humorous posts!! I seem to only have this one quite worn denarius from an old practice photo....and while I really like that Galba bronze, 600 euros does seem a bit steep @ro1974