Galba, AD 68–69 — AR Denarius

Galba ruled for only a few months, from AD 68 to 69, during the turbulent Year of the Four Emperors. After the fall of Nero and the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, Galba was proclaimed emperor, but his strict financial policies and failure to secure the loyalty of the army quickly undermined his position. He was murdered in Rome in January AD 69 and succeeded by Otho. This silver denarius was struck at Rome during Galba’s brief reign. The obverse shows his distinctive, uncompromising portrait, while the reverse depicts the deified Livia, wife of Augustus, holding a patera and sceptre. By invoking Livia and the memory of the Julio-Claudian house, Galba linked his short-lived regime to the authority and traditions of Rome’s first imperial dynasty. Galba, AD 68–69 — AR Denarius. Rome, July AD 68–January AD 69. NGC XF, Strike 4/5, Surface 2/5, flan flaws. RIC I² 186; BMCRE 8; RSC 55; BN 83.