Galba, 68 – 69.   Sestertius, circa 68 – 69, Æ 26.09 g. SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG TR P Laureate and draped bust r. Rev. LIBERTAS – PVBLICA Libertas, draped, standing l. holding pileus in r. hand and rod in l.; in field, S – C. C 112. BMC 69. RIC 388. Kraay 200. CBN 194. cf. Glendining sale 3-4 December 1929, 92 (these dies).
Rare. An absolutely spectacular sestertius of Galba, undoubtedly among the finest
in existence. A portrait of enchanting beauty, work of a very skilled master
engraver struck in high relief. Wonderful green patina and extremely fine

The quality of portraits on Galba’s sertertii has mesmerized antiquarians ever since the dawn of the Renaissance, when they began to be unearthed in the excavations in Rome and elsewhere. After having endured more than a millennium of thin, low-relief coinage with utilitarian designs, these ancient masterpieces were nothing less than a spark for the cultural awakening in Europe. From the 15th Century onward the study and acquisition of coins was considered almost a standard requirement for gentlemen, and Enea Vico (1523-1567), author of five works on the subject, suggested that the study of coins could, over time, improve or reform a person’s character. Leonardo da Vinci even referenced coins to find images of ancient triumphal arches when he created his designs for the equestrian monuments of Francesco Sforza and Gian Giacomo Trivulzio. Even so, the fine artistry of this portrait shines within a field of excellence. Galba’s advanced age and grim determination are transmitted in a way that allows the viewer to recall the stern personality of this emperor as memorably described by Suetonius. The realism of the portrait offers a marked contrast to Libertas on the reverse, which is comprised of soft, youthful and delicate contours.