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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ken Dorney, post: 3515759, member: 76086&quot;][ATTACH=full]933372[/ATTACH] </p><p>Galba, 68 - 69 AD</p><p>AE Sestertius, Rome Mint, 36mm, 26.49 grams, Struck November 68 AD</p><p>Obverse: SER GALBA IMP CAES AVG TR P, Laureate head of Galba right.</p><p>Reverse: ROMA R XL, Roma in military garb standing left holding statue of Fortuna on globe and transverse Aquila, rests on trophy with foot on helmet, shield to left, S C to left and right in fields.</p><p>BMC84 // Cohen193 // ACG7a&nbsp; //&nbsp; Foss23</p><p><br /></p><p>Some might neglect or dismiss the impact and import of not just Galba the man but Galba the administrator.&nbsp; His rise to power during a confusing time of conflict and cultural change was to have a lasting impact on Roman society and future policy.&nbsp; Some historians have portrayed him as ‘cheap’ due to his refusal to pay bribes previously made by others.&nbsp; However he is said to have made the comment ‘I choose my soldiers; I do not buy them’.&nbsp; If the statement is even slightly accurate (and I think it likely) I feel it reveals quite a bit about the character of this short-lived emperor.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Galba represents quite a bit of drastic change for the fledgeling Roman Empire.&nbsp; Nero had succeeded in eliminating his entire family (or was suspected of doing so in some cases) and on his suicide there was the need to fill an important administrative vacancy, one which Galba was chosen to fill.&nbsp; His sons and wife had died sometime during the reign of Claudius, and as he preferred men over women it is not surprising that he had no heirs.&nbsp; Galba can be considered the first ‘adoptive’ emperor.&nbsp; As he was purportedly 70 years old when he assumed power he chose his heir and adopted Lucius Calpurnus Piso Licinianus.&nbsp; This choice was to be a critical mistake as Otho had assumed he would be selected, thus leading to the death of Galba and his heir.</p><p><br /></p><p>But is reign represents some firsts:&nbsp; The first non Julio-Claudian emperor.&nbsp; The first emperor to be raised by his troops.&nbsp; The first to choose an heir based on merit and not blood.&nbsp; These things may seem simple on the surface but would have great and lasting impact on how the Empire would be formed in the future.</p><p><br /></p><p>As for this coin, the legend R XL stands for remissa quadragesima.&nbsp; Gaul was of critical import and support to Galba on his rise to power and this repeal of a 2 1/2 percent tax on goods entering Gaul was a reward for and in appreciation.&nbsp; It is worthy to note that the he came to power Vespasian was quick to reimpose the very same tax![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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