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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Finn235, post: 3509368, member: 98035&quot;]Finally got this re-imaged. One of my all-time favorite junk lot finds from early in my ancients career; this is likely responsible for me even thinking I could get one of every emperor!</p><p><br /></p><p>Roman Alexandria</p><p>Galba, r. 8 June 68 - 15 January 69</p><p>AE &quot;Obol&quot; 24mm</p><p>ΣEΡOYI ΓAΛBA AVTOK KAIΣ ΣEBA, Laureate head right&nbsp; </p><p>Draped bust of Isis right, LB (date) in right field. </p><p>Köln 241.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]930623[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Galba won the Principate largely by popular acclamation following the death of Nero; it soon became apparent that the heroic and iron-willed Galba of their memories had been replaced by a cranky, crotchety old man who refused the customary accession bonus and dished out execution orders like they were going out of style. The public and military grudgingly tolerated their new emperor for the remainder of 68, probably because he was clearly close to death and was seemingly grooming the popular Otho as his heir. The months wore on, and as Galba&#039;s health declined he delegated more and more power to his corrupt favorites, ultimately scorning Otho in favor of Piso. Things crumbled on New Year&#039;s Day 69 as Galba and his favorite Vinius were sworn in as consuls; the legions of Germania revolted in favor of Vitellius, and unrest swept across the empire. Two weeks later, on January 15, Otho scraped together enough cash to buy the loyalty of several of the Praetorian Guard, and the rest followed suit. They marched on Galba&#039;s palace and he was carried out on a litter to meet them, now too feeble to walk. The mutinous Praetorians denounced Galba, proclaimed Otho as emperor, and sentenced Galba and his posse to death. They were resisted only by a single bodyguard. Galba was beheaded and Otho was proclaimed emperor the same day.</p><p><br /></p><p>The &quot;Year 2&quot; coinage is the most likely of all of Galba&#039;s coinage to be attributed to the first two weeks of the Year of Four Emperors, although some doubt whether such a narrow attribution is possible - perhaps the coins were struck in the last month or two of 68, and certainly information did not travel as quickly across ancient Rome as has since the invention of the telegraph. These coins are not as rare as initially supposed, but they are nevertheless quite scarce. All bronze Alexandrian coins of Galba bear the date Year 2, indicating that he likely intended a large series.</p><p><br /></p><p>Post any relevant coins![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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