The many Faces of Galba

Been studying Galba denarii and have been researching examples to compare different portrait styles. It is interesting to see what some describe as a good portrait vs bad. Some examples show Galba with short hair and a symmetrical head, and some depict Galba with a more elongated face showing his old age.

Of the below examples taken from the web, I think example #1 and #3 are the finest styles most attractive of the bunch. Example #4 was discussed on previous threads, and I'm surprise it was given a fine style grade.

What is your favorite style of Galba? Post your Galba's with nice portraits.

1.

Galba. AD 68-69. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.35 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa July AD 68 - January AD 69. Bare head right / S P Q R/ O • B/ C S in three lines within oak wreath. RIC I 167; RSC 287


2.


Galba. AD 68-69. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.67 g, 6h). Uncertain mint in Gaul (Narbo?). Struck circa April-June, AD 68. SER GALBA IMPERATOR, laureate head right / VICTORIA P R, Victory standing facing, head left, on globe, holding wreath in extended right hand, cradling palm frond in left arm. RIC I 111; RSC 322

3.

Galba; 68-69 AD, Rome, Denarius, 3.52g. Obv: IMP SER - GALBA - AVG Head bare r. Rx: S P Q R / OB / C S in three lines within oak wreath. BM-34 corr., C-287, Paris-76, RIC-167.

4.

Galba (AD 68-69). AR denarius (19mm, 3.49 gm, 5h). NGC VF Fine Style. Rome, June-December AD 68. IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG, laureate and draped bust of Galba right / VICTORIA PR, Victory standing left on globe, with wreath in right hand and palm branch in left. RIC I 217.

 

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Haven't got any Galba denarius t have what I consider a nice As portrait.
Galba. AD 68-69. Æ As (29mm, 10.94 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa June-August AD 68. Laureate head right / Ceres seated left on throne with high, arched back, holding grain ear and poppy and cradling caduceus. RIC I 291; ACG –.

 

All very nice coins that I would be very proud to own.. but I don't (way outside of my budget)

I have recently purchased a Provincial Galba from a fellow CoinTalk member - which I hope to receive in a few days.



Are you investigating with the intention of buying one of these?

 

Galba:

RI Galba AE Sestertius SPQR - O.B - CIV.SER in Wreath

 

those are dandies...i have one of him a little worn with a weak strike(or worn die) on the reverse..but good enough for me & Bobbi McGee...

 

Very nice coin!
You gotta explain that profile pic..lol

 

Wow... sestertius! Very nice!

 

Thank you.

I like its style. He has a face that exudes “You know, Vindex, I think you are right. Let’s get rid of that Nero Twit!”

And, you have seen my Quinarius too...

GALBA QUINARIUS


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

 

...i'm feelin' sorta Ernest T Bass like lately...hehuhu hu!!...

 

No. 2 is quite odd-looking to me. I guess Galba wasn't wearing his toupee that day!

Here's mine, which I've posted a couple of times before and like a lot:

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.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?index=11&list=PL5863467A9FF87008&t=0s&v=5f5hCdyGEYM

 

..hehe....how do you do mrs wiley.....one of the best characters in one of the best episodes of a timeless great TV show...

 

Nice coin and style!

 

Galba has quite a few coins from mints other than Rome. Most people prefer the Rome mint style but I have a fondness for the oddball branches even though we are not always sure where they were struck. I am not studying them mostly because I do not have the financial resources to collect them.

Denarius Narbo mint /Victory on globe


As / Victory Western mint?

 

My one and only Galba - recently won, already shared on CT after I won it )))

"The heavy-jawed portrait of Galba is very similar to that found on his legate and SC issues, which have an undisputed Antiochene origin."

Tetradrachm, Seleucis and Pieria, Antiochia ad Orontem, dated B in reverse legend = New Royal Year 2 = 68/69 AD
29 mm, 14.88 g, 12 h
RPC 4197; McAlee 310/3; Prieur 99; Wruk 58;

Ob.: AYTOKPATωP CEPOVIOC ΓAΛBAC ϹƐΒΑϹΤΟϹ, Bare head of Galba to right
Rev.: ƐΤΟΥϹ Β Eagle standing left on two opposing laurel branches, wings spread, holding wreath in beak; palm branch to left, ЄTOYC B (date RY 2) in exergue

Picture from the auction:

​

 

I always liked the Eagle on your coin!

 

Yes - that is a great coin all around. Nice win!

 

My Galba denarius with DIVVA AVGVSTA reverse (believed to be Livia), and sestertius of Galba / Libertas.

 

How about Vespasian as Galba?


Vespasian
AR Denarius, 3.39g
Rome Mint, January - June 70 AD
Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: COS ITER TR POT; Mars, helmeted, naked except for cloak round waist, advancing r., holding spear in r., holding spear in r. hand, and aquila over l. shoulder in l.
RIC 23 (C). BMC 11. RSC 87. BNC 12.
Acquired from Tom Cederlind, July 2005.