The Year of the Four Emperors .... when I read about it: How I sit and think about it Edited But mostly I think about coins - and how freaking expensive they are. It was certainly a challenge for someone like me to assemble the four - if you are on a tight budget the only way (I found) was to be at once patient for a deal but also be ready to pounce when one arrives.... be flexible - not only for grade but for metal, for Imperial or Provincial. But you still have to find a coin you like - its challenging to say the least!! If you have deeper pockets you are probably able to sacrifice a little less - and good for you! Here is my ragtag assembly: GALBA - AE23, Syria, Antioch Mint OTHO: AE28, Syria, Antioch Mint VITELLIUS: denarius 18mm - Rome mint VESPASIAN: Sestertius, Rome Mint, 32mm It's August - the month the Danubian legions announce support of Vespasian (in Syria) and then invade Italy in September on his behalf... he would be officially installed as Emperor on December 21st, 69... bringing some much needed stability to the Empire. ------ Please share your coins featuring Emperors who ruled in 69AD..
Nice collection, I have all 4 but I specialize in Vespasian and Titus. Here's one that doesn't have a lot of eye appeal but is historically important and minted for only 2 months. Year 1 of Vespasian: VT TIT ΦΛAVI OYEΣΠAΣIAN KAIΣ Laureate head right, LA (year 1) lower right Nike (Victory) flying left, raising wreath in extended right hand, palm frond in left hand; Alexandria, Egypt 1 July - 28 Aug 69 A.D 11.44g RPC 2402; Emmett 205/1 (R1) Ex-Forum from the Errett Bishop Collection The Roman legions in Alexandria proclaimed Vespasian emperor on 1 July 69 A.D. This coin was struck within the two months before the Egyptian new year began on 29 August 69 A.D. A fairly rare type that doesn't come to market often compared with year 2 coins.
Nice job, @Clavdivs ! NERO RI Poppea-Nero BI tetradrachm of Alexandria LI yr10 63-64AD Milne 217 RPC 5275 VINDEX RI Civil War VINDEX 68-69 CE AR Denarius 3.22g Gallic mint SALVS GENERIS HVMANI Victory l globe - SPQR in wreath RIC 72 BMCRE 34-36 RSC 420 RARE GALBA GALBA 68-69 BCE AR Quinarius 15mm, 1.5g; Lugdunum mint Ox: SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG P M TR, laureate head right Rx VICTORIAE GALBAE AVG, Victory on globe standing left RIC 131 scarce OTHO Otho, AD 69. Billon AR Tetradrachm, 23mm, 11.9gms; Year 1; Egypt-Alexandria. Obv.:AVTOK MAΓ OΘΩNOΣ KAIΣ ΣEB; Laureate head right, L A in right field Rev: RΩ-MA; Helmeted, cuirassed bust of Roma right. Emmet 186 VITELLIUS Roman Empire AR Denarius Vitellius 69 BCE Rome mint 18mm, 3g OBV: A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head r REV: PONT MAXIM, Vesta, veiled, seated r on throne, holding patera and scepter REF: RIC I pg 273, #107 VESPASIAN RI Vespasian 69-79 CE AR Quinarius Victory seated wreath palm RIC 802 Rare
I gave this one to my grandson in April, hoping to spark at least a little historical curiosity - he's extremely intelligent, but his interests change like every other almost-15-year-old. My fingers are crossed anyway
Very nice group! Galba, Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch., AR Tetradrachm (27 mm, 14.30 g), ΑΥΤΟ]ΚΡΑΤⲰΡ ΓΑΛΒΑC ΚΑΙCΑΡ CЄΒ[ΑCΤΟC] Bare head of Galba to right./ Rev. [ΕΤΟΥC Β] Eagle with spread wings standing left on wreath, holding wreath in beak; palm frond to left. McAlee 308. RPC I 4198.
Excellent post, as always @Clavdivs ! Sandberg as Otho had me dying Lots of moving pieces after Nero's suicide... and frankly, even before it! Vindex "minor" revolt, though easily squashed, led to enough unrest that Nero could feel the upheaval brewing beneath him: PR=Populus Romanus - The Roman People. AE 24.2 MM, 6.5 gr. This countermark was used by the rebels in Gaul under the leadership of Julius Vindex during the months of March through June of 68 CE. Used mostly upon dupondii and Asses. Coin appears intentionally slate as these were known to deface and denounce the current powers that be. Ex: CNG CIVIL WAR, 68-69 CE, Den, fouree, Mint in Southern Gaul. VESTA PR QVIRITVM, veiled and draped bust of Vesta; torch to right, r/IO MAX CAPITOLINVS, Jupiter std in Distyle temple, with wreath in pediment and containing Jupiter seated left, holding thunderbolt and sceptre; RIC 128; Frank Robinson’s notes “F or so BUT much patchy core exposure, somewhat off-ctr, lgnds crude & partly off; bust clear; but pretty ugly. Or, as a certain deity would say, "A beautiful coin, folks, believe me, a beautiful coin, I can tell you that." But Very rare. Ex: Frank Robinson The man in his prime: NERO 54-68 CE. AE Dupondius of Lugdunum, 66. Laureate head / Securitas seated with sceptre. RIC.445. The old timer who was too tough for his own good: Galba (68-69), Denarius, Rome, July AD 68 - January AD 69, AR (18 MM 2,67 gr h 5), IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG P M, laureate head r., Rv. DIVA - AVGVSTA, Livia standing l., holding sceptre and patera. RIC 224 C 58.Very rare. Fine Ex-Savoca Nero's drinking buddy: OTHO Den, SECVRITAS PR, Securitas stg l; F/AVG, part of obv lgnd wk/off,scant rev lgnd, good metal with just smooth wear, lt tone, minor scr on rev. Portrait quite bold & nice.(A F/VG realized $439, Ponterio 4/09.) Ex Frank Robinson The fatest Augustus: Vitellius AD 69. AR Denarius minted at Rome, Jul.-Dec. AD 69. Laureate head of Vitellius, right. Reverse : Libertas (Liberty) draped, standing facing, head right, holding pileus and scepter. RIC-1005; BMCRE-31. The man with the plan... and the troops:
Collection of AD 69 civil war coins of Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian. the aureus has 2 future emperors on reverse - Titus and Domitian. The bronzes are both sestertii.
Here are Galba, Vitellius, and Vespasian. No Otho yet, although of course I want one. I've been tempted by some Otho Provincials which aren't overly expensive, but they just don't look anything like him -- unlike the other three I have, whose portraits are all, I believe, very recognizable. So what would be the point of adding an unrecognizable Otho?
As someone who is only JUST dippin' their toes in the water of collecting ANCIENTS, what truly would be the point of gathering examples on non-look alikes? Yet, I'm still open to those truly historically significant types, i.e. the first state generous, social conscience coins ... . I'm EVOLVING like everything else.
Great effort and coins Claudivs, before I turned my main interest to architecture I was interested in the 69 AD period.
Galba Ae Sestertius Rome 68 AD Obv head left laureate. Rv Pax seated left. RIC 339 26.40 grms 32 mm Photo by W. Hansen It is interesting how much Galba tried to differentiate his image from that of Nero. Whereas Nero's image was for more voluptuous, with the image of Galba one can almost see how the skin is stretched over the boney structure of the face. Perhaps the only concession to vanity is the treatment of his hair.(My understanding is that he was bald.) He is clearly harkening back to the the type of imagery seen during the old Republic and he does look the part. The whole vibe is one of a older, hard bitten tough military commander. (Though what is with those lips?) Naturally given the situation, the hope for peace which would bring with it normalcy would be highly sought after during those turbulent times.
Well, of all the coins in that post, most came from my past collections. The only one I presently still own is that posthumous Vespasian with the capricorns on it. The others were from my 2007-2008 novice collection (my first foray into Romans), or my subsequent 2011-2013 Twelve Caesars collection. As is evident from the images, I was not quite as picky about coin or photo quality back then. If you wanna be impressed, scroll back up to @octavius' stuff!
Well, I never set out to collect the set - it just eventually happens. I'll call this the year of the last emperor and the 2 hopefuls. My only coin of Vespasian has only FSRs photo - I'll spare you that. Galba Ex LAC Otho Ex Naumann Vitellius Ex Incitatus Please excuse the grading on the Otho - this is NN 'VF'!
[QUOTE="Tigermoth1, post: 7848022, member: 121422"]I'm EVOLVING like everything else.[/QUOTE] I am always careful how much I evolve RI Galba AE Sestertius 69 CE SPQR - O.B - CIV.SER in Wreath