Another Galba, better portrait

Galba is one of those emperor's that can have some ugly portraits. Surfaces on this one may not be the best, but found the portrait to be one of the more realistic I've seen. Fine style is overused, but I think this one's portrait is in my opinion.


Galba, 68-69AD, AR, Denarius. Rome. Obv, IMP SER GALBA AVG Bare head of Galba facing right. Rev., S P Q R OB C S Legend in three lines inside oak wreath. RIC 167

Post your handsome Galba's...if handsome is the right word.

 

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Very nice example, @Steelers72!



Galba. AD 68-69. AR Denarius. Rome mint.

 

Beautiful coin!



Galba denarius
RIC 167, RSC 287.
Rome mint, August-October 68 AD.
19mm 3.0 gr.
Obv. IMP SER GALBA AVG, his bare head right.
Rev. SPQR OB CS in three lines within oak wreath.

 

Both obverse and reverse are excellent, congrats Steelers72

My average Galba:

 

These coins that you keep showing .. are they yours or are you looking for feedback prior to buying?

 

I might as well trot out my old war-horse again:

Galba AR Denarius, Aug-Oct 68 AD Rome Mint. Obv. Bare head right, IMP SER GALBA AVG / Rev. S P Q R/ O • B/ C S [OB CS = OB CIVES SERVATOS (For Saving the Citizens)] in three lines within oak wreath. RIC I 167, RSC II 287, Sear RCV I 2109 (ill.). 18.33 mm., 3.29 g.

 

Even though it shouldn't matter, since I am not falsely claiming ownership or listing them for sale, some coins post to discuss the condition/grade, most of the ones I have posted I actually own. I like to discuss the styles of examples as that is what interests me the most since I collect Fine Style portraits. You train your eye to find the best examples by seeing others and discussing. I enjoy seeing everyone's examples as each was made by hand and has their own variances to them.

No, I am not looking for feedback prior to buying. I am looking to discuss the styles. I like to collect fine style pieces. I buy what I like, if the price is right!

I own the coin in my avatar, if that was ever a question.

 

I like Galba's portraits. He looks like a real man's man. A retired boxer with a punched in nose.

 

I still don't really understand what "Fine Style" means, beyond "I think this coin is attractive." It seems to me to be even more more nebulous a term than the general coin grade terms.

 

I do agree, it seems very subjective. I like to think of it as a very realistic portrait. You see some consistency after looking at examples over and over. At first was a bit confused, because some coins look beautiful to me and weren't fine style apparently.

 

I agree with @DonnaML . What is fine style? That is an extremely subjective thought process. I collect Historically, and what is cool to me. I don’t get into grading (leave that to Modern Machine made coins.)

I only post coins that I own.

GALBA QUINARIUS


RI GALBA AR Quinarius Lugdunum mint laureate r Victory globe stdng left 15mm 1.5g SCARCE
Ex: @Brian Bucklan

 

Galba, A.D. 68-69

Grade: VF+ light grey toning

Catalog: Köln 233-4; Dattari (Savio) 310; K&G 17.14;

Material: Billon

Weight: 7.18 g

Diameter: 24.00 mm


Obverse: ΣEΡOΥI ΓAΛBA AΥTOK KAIΣ ΣEBA, Laureate head right; L B (date) before

Reverse: EΛEΥ-ϑEΡI, Eleutheria standing left, resting elbow on column, holding wreath and scepter; to left, simpulum

 

Thank you for the explanation, I was wondering the same thing.

I will not post my coin of Galba (or Caligula in your other thread), as the grade of my coins does not come anywhere near the ones you post. So not to blur the discussion you are looking for

 

I like to discuss all aspects of coins as well.. although I certainly note if I am posting a coin I do not own. If you do happen to own the Galba (still not sure) - then congratulations! It is amazing.

 

While it's not my main collecting theme, I also enjoy portraits that are unusually lifelike. (By "lifelike" I mean something like "could depict a real person" rather than "accurately depicts the person in question.") While this is somewhat subjective, of course, it's less subjective than the more general term "fine style."

Of my 2 Galbas, this is my preferred portrait, on an as:



I'd also like to get one that makes him look more like a bruiser, as in the OP. The best of these are on sestertii in my opinion.

 

When I hear "retired boxer," my thoughts go to the bronze Hellenistic "Boxer at Rest" sculpture in Rome, which I vividly remember from my trip there with my son in 2008. It's one of my very favorite ancient sculptures, and very unusual as a complete surviving life-sized bronze statue. There aren't too many of them. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxer_at_Rest and these photos:







I also like this photograph from 1885 of the sculpture right after its discovery:

 

I believe my Galba sestertius spent some years as a pocket piece adding more wear than we are accustomed to seeing.


The as has a bit more of the boxer look.

 

A pretty frilly hair bow for a tough guy.

 

This has to be my favorite portrait of Galba Ae Sestertius RIC 339 68 A.D. Obv. Laureate head left Rv Pax seated left. 26.40 grms 30 mm Photo by W. Hansen

 

Great pic of "Boxer at Rest". I will put it on my must see list for a trip to Rome, one day....
For now I will have to settle for a period hand sculpture. I had to google cestius when I bought the coin.



Mondo Greco; Umbria, Tuder; 220 to 200 BC; AE Triens
Obv - Right hand, wearing caestus, flanked by four pellets.
Rev - Two clubs; TVTDE (in Umbrian, retrograde) between, flanked by four pellets
32.0 grams; 30 mm; 12H
T.V. 165.
HN Italy 47
Syd AG 221, plate 20, #5
Haeberlin plate 81, #15