Another ugly coin of Galba

I have several Galba denarii. Some of these have ugly portraits. However this newest addition for today's CNG auction has to be the king of the ugly Galba portraits I have seen...and I love it.

Please post your coins of Galba or your ugly coins. Ugly coins need a home too.

Galba. AD 68-69. AR Denarius (17.1mm, 3.03 g, 12h). Spanish mint (Tarraco?). Struck circa April-late AD 68. Laureate head right; globe at point of bust / Libertas standing left, holding pileus with right hand, vindicta with left. RIC I 23; RSC 118. Good Fine, toned, flatly struck.
CNG 427, Lot: 433.
From the Collection of a Texas Wine Doctor.

 

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I saw this one in the auction and wondered if it might be an imitation... but if CNG says it isn't, it probably isn't. In any case, neat coin, congrats!!

 

That is what I would think. Hopefully they had some published references proving official mint product, since that is one of the least likely imperial portraits I have ever seen.

Interesting coin.

 

Galba is just one of several rulers with coins that walk the tightrope between official branch mint and not so official operations. Where the line is drawn is a matter for discussion and an open mind. Today's expert opinion may be as hilarious in 2118 as some of the 1918 ideas are today. Listen to experts but don't worship them. I am not an expert (just a fool with opinions).

I do not know enough about wild looking Galbas to feel good about this coin when there are so many other styles that make me feel better. I'd leave this one to Galba specialists.

 

I would have bid on this one if hadn't recognized the already high bidder

Nice catch!

 

Please pardon the slight hijacking of this thread. I’m in the market for a Galba bronze to help me complete my Twelve Caesars set, with a budget of about $300-350 for a Galba.

I fully recognize that by posting a coin publicly, I run the risk of advertising it to another buyer. I’m willing to take that risk because I am on the fence about this one.

https://www.ma-shops.com/koelnermuenzkabinett/item.php?id=13186&lang=en

Compared to VCoins offerings, this coin shows good portrait detail at the price point. Anyone care to weigh in on whether this is a good value?

 

Many thanks @Nemo for the comments and for not bidding against me. I will return the favour.

Though I loved the coin anyway, it is always good to know that someone, whose opinion I respect, saw something in the coin as well.

 

very nice!..most all Roman coins stuck in Spain have an certain look to them,bordering on Celtic, that i find appealing and easy to identify where they come come just by glance.. Galba denarius, Rome mint

 

..welp, i guess i'm about as anyone as any one can be..i think its an alright deal and a great portrait coin

 

@ominus1

Tha Spanish portraits of Galba are some of the strangest portraits seen on imperial coins. Here are 3
examples from my own collection.

 

truly pieces of art!..

 

Seems like a decent deal to me!

 

Talk about Friday afternoon dies! During times of civil war it's hard telling who was pressed into service at the mints, apparently talent, or lack of it, was not a concern.

Nice catch Andrew.

 

Ugly, no, I don’t think so, but characteristic. Real... it’s the lettering that’s strange! Could it be a contemporary Eastern imitation? And - the portrait looks like that of Dante.

 

Here are my personal observations about this coin:



Pros:

1. This is a pretty good portrait of Galba; it's recognizable and reasonably artistic.
2. Obverse legend is readable and Galba's name is especially clear.
3. Both obverse and reverse centering is good.
4. No apparent tooling (but evident smoothing).
5. Seems reasonably priced relative to available data.

Cons:

1. Noticeable pitting on obverse and reverse detracts from overall appeal of coin.

I think the decision boils down to whether or not you're comfortable with the level of pitting. Most of the other comparable, non-pitted Galbas in this price range don't look as artistic or display comparable sharpness.

Hope this helps.

 

I appreciate those specifics very much. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to find a portrait like that in my price range too many places. Thanks for taking the time to post, and apologies to the OP again for piggybacking on his thread.

 

So I bought that Galba. If you wish to post and trash that coin, please be gentle. . Now Otho and Vitellius are my remaining two coins for the Twelve Caesars. I'll probably shop for Vitellius next year, and then Otho after I win the Lottery. .

But to bring this post back to the OP discussion, in all of those denarii, there does seem to be an effort on the part of the die engraver to represent Galba's prominent (or prominently smashed) nose. Only @Orfew's third coin omits this physical feature. Galba really must have had a face for radio.

 

Value wise, it's a fairly competitive (aka good) price/deal.

 

I think you’re absolutely right that even ugly coins need a good home, Orfew. I also agree that the portrait on the coin is king of ugly Galbas. Logically, it follows that your house will very soon be a palace! Kudos and congrats!

 

I know nothing about these but the style above does not make me think of Spain. I would have guessed Rome. This suggests I need to study before I buy the Western Galba denarius I want.

At present, I have two bronzes. First is the Rome mint sestertius I got from CNG years ago. I believe it was a pocket piece for a while long before I got it.


I am less sure of my as' mint.


I agree with Ides' points on the coin and would welcome it in my collection. IMO, the style outweighs the pits.