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Galba

Reece Period attributed: Period 3

Obverse image of a coin of Galba

Member of the Civil-Wars dynasty.

Coins for this issuer were issued from 68 until 69.

Servius Sulpicius Galba was born in 3 BC and known through his younger days as Lucius Livius Ocella. He had two sons by his wife Lepida, but never remarried after her death. Livia Augusta showed Galba great favour during her life, and Gaius (Caligula) placed him as a commander in upper Germany. Upon Gaius’ murder, Galba had an opportunity to grab power, but demurred and grew to be a close friend of the emperor Claudius.

Galba’s achievements in Germany and as proconsul in Africa won him honor, but after appointments to three priesthoods he lived in semi-retirement through the middle of Nero’s reign. He then assumed a governorship in Spain for eight years, where he began to show signs of cruelty in extreme punishments for small crimes. He was hailed as imperator in Spain before the actual death of Nero, and as soon as he heard of Nero’s death he immediately took the name of Caesar and marched into Rome.

Galba aroused hatred with his greed and cruelty, particularly among the army. Fond of food and pleasure, he ate many times per day and punished his real and imagined enemies harshly. He died at the hands of cavalrymen-assassins as Otho made a bid for power.

Suetonius reports that Galba was of medium height with no hair, blue eyes, and a hooked nose. He was heavyset and gout disfigured much of his body.

Latest examples recorded with images

We have recorded 80 examples.

PAS record number: DEV-3A271B

Record: DEV-3A271B
Object type: COIN
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Description: A silver Roman denarius of Galba (AD&…
Workflow: Awaiting validationFind awaiting validation

PAS record number: ESS-8B0F36

Record: ESS-8B0F36
Object type: COIN
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Description: An incomplete plated silver Roman denarius…
Workflow: Awaiting validationFind awaiting validation

PAS record number: DENO-E5F5CA

Record: DENO-E5F5CA
Object type: COIN
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Description: A Roman silver denarius of Galba (AD&…
Workflow: Awaiting validationFind awaiting validation

PAS record number: SUR-BD6088

Record: SUR-BD6088
Object type: COIN
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Description: A silver Roman denarius of Galba dating to…
Workflow: Awaiting validationFind awaiting validation

Other resources about Galba

View all coins recorded by the scheme attributed to Galba.

Information from Wikipedia

Types issued

Adrian Murdoch's Emperor's of Rome

This video has been embedded from Adrian Murdoch's series of podcasts on the Emperors of Rome. Many thanks to him for allowing us to use these podcasts.

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