I attended a local coin show today. No ancient specialist there but several dealers had a few modestly priced coins like this one. I normally would not buy a barely recognizable coin but it was bothering me that I somehow recognized the coin and it was a mighty big heavy piece of brass. There was nothing on the coin envelope except, Ancient Coin, $25. After a bit of bargaining we got the price down some and I bought it. Every time I looked at it on the way home I said to myself, "Where have I seen this coin before?" When I got it home I figured it out. This exact coin is on the cover of Sears 4th edition (1988) of Roman Coins and Their Value. No wonder I recognized it as something familiar. It is a sestertius of Galba with Victory advancing and it is not a common coin. This will only be my second Galba so it will go into the collection, if for nothing else, the interesting story.
Well, the one on the book cover does appear to be in a little better shape, but think of the ten of thousands of Romans who must have handled this coin, what items did it buy in the market place, how many rounds at the local taberna, what row of seats at the Flavian Amphitheater and under whose rule did it finally pass out of circulation?
That was a steal. The guy who knows nothing about ancients shouldn't have negotiated. But I'm sure you are glad that he did. Congrats on the find!
Typically even for a sestertius in that condition I would have no interest. But Galba changes everything. I could recognize the portrait even before I read your write up. It’s recognizably Galba, which is nice at 25 bucks.