Lot 2533

Description

Galba, (A.D. 68-69), AE Sestertius, issued December 68, Rome mint, (26.32 grams), obv. laureate bust to right of Galba draped, around SER GALBA IMP CAES AVG, rev. Galba, bare-headed and in military dress standing to right, on low platform with officer behind him, facing him below are four soldiers, horse between them, in exergue ADLOCVTI[O], S C across field, (S.-, cf.RIC 462, Kraay [NN&M 133], for these dies [his Officina G] obverse die A41 and reverse die P188, the combination not noted by Kraay). Some obverse scratches, otherwise nearly very fine and extremely rare.

An extensive discussion on the reverse type is published by Kraay (p.38-9). Kraay concludes that the type is a natural progression by Galba of the 'Praetorian' types of Gaius, Claudius and Nero. The reverse is arguably the most important used by Galba in his short reign.