[Ancient] Galba Dupondius

My own 'Madroosi' came in!

Galba has always been one of my favourite emperors. Not because he was a great emperor but because I found his assassination so interesting. Particularly the story of Sempronius Densus, the sole Praetorian who stood form while his colleagues turned on Galba or disappeared from the scene.

Plutarch wrote of Sempronius Densus

Galba was beheaded and hacked up with around 120 people claiming to be the one who took his life. Each looking for favour from Otho. When Otho was deposed not long after Vitellius received the list the name and had them executed.

Sempronius' final stand is considered the only heroic act done in Rome on that day and because of his 'act worthy of Rome' he is remembered in history. In regards to his final stand Cassius Dio wrote

Not a bad way to be remembered.

Galba Dupondius
Date: 68-69 AD
Obverse: IMP SER GALBA - AVG TR P, Laureate head right
Reverse: LIBERTAS - PVBLICA, S-C, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and sceptre
Size: 28.38 mm
Weight: 13.43 grams
Attribution: RIC I 275
Ex VAuctions, Ex Madroosi collection.

 

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Oh Nice!

 

Beautiful coin!

 

I like your new addition very much. I mean, look at that profile! Very nice.

Here is my meager Galba Dupondius:

GALBA AE Dupondius
OBVERSE: SER GALBA IMP CAES AVG TR.P, Laur. head right
REVERSE: PA X AVGVST Pax standing, head left, holding branch and cornucopia, S C in fileds
Struck at Rome, 68AD
13.2g, 27mm
RIC 283

 

Despite the pitting, its still a nice coin with a pleasant portrait.

My only galba:

 

Congrats on the new Galba coin!

 

Sweeeeet, congrats!
I too love the story about how he 'abdicated'.

 

Awesome coin Whiz, great price too!!, i think Madroosi is here to stay..
Here's my Galba.....

 

Nice coin John. Love the color.

 

Thanks for compliments. I am ecstatic to have a quality (relatively) Galba in my collection that fit my budget.

Bing - Awesome dupondius. I always like it when a legend stands out like that.

Mat - Galba has a huge nose on your denarius. That is one big honker.

Eng - Madroosi is truly here to stay. Thanks for not bidding me up

 

Sweet => that's an awesome new pick-up, whizb4ng (congrats)

... sadly, I don't have a Galba coin to toss into the mix (man, I need more coins!!)

 

Very nice Galba Whiz! I liked the history you added with the story of Sempronius Densus. It's always more fun to own coins when you know some of the history behind them.

Galba, Otho and Vitellius are next on my list. Hopefully I can find one as nice as yours.
Well done.

 

That is a nice Galba dupondius, Whiz. Nice purchase!

His portraits come in various types, and the best of them, like yours, reflect a stern man with a strong will and character, which he was. In fact, this is part of the reason why he so swiftly fell from power - he was old school and believed in things like strength and honor - at a time when most everybody just wanted the money (not that its any different nowadays). So, he refused to pay the pretorian guards the accustomed 'merit' increases, and they didn't like that. I was not aware of Sempronius. He obviously was no in the take. An honorable man.

I collect Galba coins as well, here are some of mine.

 

Wow Eduard! Fantastic coins.

As for Sempronius I really enjoy reading about people who are essentially on the fringe of history. Their name is recorded for all to see but all we know about them is one specific act or that they were some random official who disappeared into obscurity. Two thousand years later we still see their names in the record books and could only wonder what they were like.

 

Steve - how do you not have a Galba yet? You really do need more coins.

 

Don't encourage him!

 

But...but...that's half the fun!