Not a coin I ever thought I would get at an affordable price, but I got this for $90 shipped, it was a no-brainer. Kinda completes a very short set that I didn't intend to assemble, year of the 4 emperors. Vitellius (69 A.D.) Egypt, Alexandria Billon Tetradrachm O: ΩΛΟΥ ΟΥΙΤ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ ΑΥΤ, laureate head right. R: Nike advancing left, holding wreath with her extended right hand and palm frond with her left; LA (date) to left. 26mm 12.1g RPC 5372; Köln 260-2; Dattari 340; K&G 19.1. Emmett 196.1
For kicks, the other 3 emperors. Galba, (68 - 69 A.D.) AR Tetradrachm, 13.6, 23mm, 12h; Egypt: Alexandria, AD 68. Obv.: ΛOY KAIΣ ΣOYΛΠ ΓAΛBA [-]; Laureate head right, LA in right field. Rev.: AΛEΞAN - ΔPEA; Draped bust of Alexandria right wearing elephant headdress. Reference: Dattari 298; RPC I, 5326 From the Aethelred Collection Otho (69 A.D.) Egypt, Alexandria Billon Tetradrachm O: AYTOK MAPK OΘΩNOΣ KAIΣ ΣEB, laureate head right, LA (year 1) lower right. R: EΛEY-ΘEPIA, Eleutheria (Liberty) standing left, wreath in extended right hand, scepter in left hand, leaning with left elbow on column, simpulum (ladle used for tasting and pouring sacrificial libations) left in lower left field. 12.58g 24.4mm Milne 359; RPC I 5354 (5 spec.); Dattari 327; BMC Alexandria p. 25, 208; Curtis 238; Kampmann 18.6; Emmett 184 This variety with a simpulum on the reverse is much rarer than the same type without this control symbol. RPC reports only 5 specimens with the simpulum and 17 specimens without it. This variety is missing from the important collections in Cologne, Paris, and Milan, and we know of only one example offered at auction in the past two decades (CNG 76, 12 Sep 2007, lot 3152, VF, $430 plus fees). Vespasian (69 - 79 A.D.) Egypt, Alexandria AR Tetradrachm O: AYTOK KAIΣ ΣEBA OYVEΣΠAΣIANOY; Head of Vespasian, laurerate, r., date LΓ before neck R: No Legend; Nike flying l., with wreath and palm. Alexandria mint, 70-71 AD 12.82g 25mm RPC 2423
Also, I only have one of the set in tets and not surprisingly I got it from you, @Mat! Galba, Tetradrachm, EIPHNH BI Tetradrachm Galba Augustus: 68 - 69AD Issued: 68AD 22.5mm 10.21gr O: ΛΟΥΚ ΛΙΒ ΣΟΥΛΠ ΓΑΛΒΑ ΚΑΙΕ ΣΕΒΑ ΑΥΤ; Laureate head, right. R: EIPHNH; Veiled bust of Eirene (Pax) right, caduceus over shoulder. Exergue: LA, obverse right field. (LA = Regnal Year 1 = 68AD) Alexandria, Egypt Mint Koln 219; Milne 309; RPC 5328; Geissen 219; Dattari 302.
Very nice set. I don’t have any tetradrachms but I did pick up a Vitellius from FSR’s last auction. I know off center strikes don’t get as much love but it was reflected in the price and his name is almost all there.
