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The ancestors of Servius Sulpicius Galba (3 BC – 69 AD) made some notorious contributions to the history of ancient Rome. A forebear of the same name treacherously slaughtered thousands of the Roman Republic's enemies during the 150 BC Lusitanian War, and Galba’s great-grandfather joined the many senators who betrayed and murdered Julius Caesar on the Ides of March, 44 BC. Members of clan Galba held various powerful positions over the centuries, from consul to dictator. But the most famous of the line was Galba himself, who was born during Augustus’ reign and rose in prominence to the point of sitting atop Rome's throne.
Having such a high-profile background, it was natural for Galba to progress from various posts such as praetor (20 AD) and consul (30 AD). He subsequently held governorships over important territories such as Aquitania, Germania superior, and Africa. Galba served faithfully under Julio-Claudian Emperors Tiberius and Caligula. After the latter’s assassination in 41 AD, Galba reportedly refused his fellow Romans’ invitation to become Emperor. Instead, he chose to support Claudius’ ascension.
Around this time, Galba eschewed another imperial opportunity - the courtship of Augustus’ great granddaughter, Agrippina the Younger. Agrippina strove for her lineage’s supremacy, and surmised that she and Galba would be a worthy dynastic duo. Galba was apparently married at that time, and (according to questionable but amusing sources) his mother-in-law publicly slapped Agrippina for overly aggressive pursuit. After Galba’s rejection, Agrippina married her uncle Claudius, only to poison him, thereby facilitating her son Nero’s ascension. Meanwhile, Galba retired. He distanced himself from Rome’s political intrigues for a decade, then, upon Agrippina’s death, returned to the imperial fold. Emperor Nero called upon him to govern Hispania.
Despite prior loyalty towards the Julio-Claudians, Galba’s standing with Nero proved precarious. Faced with an increasingly unpopular and unstable boss, Galba finally accepted the destined path to Rome’s throne. As a prelude, Galba struck denarii in Hispania declaring his intentions, with reverse inscriptions including CONCORDIA PROVINCIARVM (stating the provinces affirmed his power), ROMA RENASCENS (proclaiming Rome’s rebirth), and LIBERTAS PVBLICA (espousing the people’s liberty). There is even a denarius appearing at this time, often attributed to Galba, that bears EID MAR, perhaps alluding to Galba’s ancestry, and certainly promoting rebellion from Nero’s perceived despotism. It is important to note that Galba was not advocating return to the Republic, but rather the restoration of freedom from tyranny. Moreover, Galba’s coinage advertised that his actions were not in his own interests, but that of the Roman people. Such a strategy seemed prudent considering this was the first well-organized Roman civil war since the Empire’s genesis.
In June 68 AD, Emperor Nero committed suicide, and the Senate chose Galba next. The 73-year-old administrator marched towards Rome to accept the nomination. Along the way, Galba took control over Nero’s former mints and struck coinage in large quantities and varieties, particularly for such a brief reign. These issues are of great interest to ancient Roman coin collectors. They include not only numerous motifs used previously, such as depictions of Ceres, Vesta, Salus, Pax, Fortuna, Providentia, and Securitas, but also new designs invoking Aesculapius, Aequitas, Felicitas, Fides, Honos, and Virtus. Galba explored new and expanded numismatic directions as Rome dispensed with a century-old imperial dynasty.
This denarius is a particularly artistic example, earning NGC Ancient's prestigious Star and Fine Style designations. The veristic obverse portrait reflects Galba’s advanced years and resolve to maintain the Empire's path toward a golden age. The obverse inscription, SER GALBA IMPERATOR, suggests Galba had not yet officially ascended; other coins declare CAES (Caesar) and/or AVG (Augustus). The coin’s verso bears the figure of Victory, standing on top of a globe, holding a wreath and a palm frond. The reverse inscription reads VICTORIA P • R. This remarkable, unprecedented epithet does not advertise personal achievement, but victory for the Roman populace,
populi romani.
The concepts that Galba promoted are in stark contrast to his imperial reputation - ruthless, frugal, and frail. Galba’s reputation as Emperor was partially, if not largely, at the mercy of his delegates. He denied the troops their expected imperial transition bonus, spurring them to declare an alternative Emperor, namely Vitellius. Galba countered by declaring a successor, but surprisingly did not choose his military ally Otho. The disappointed Otho eliminated Galba, whose reign lasted only seven months. The imperial tenures of Vitellius and Otho proved similarly ephemeral; by the end of 69 AD, another prominent military commander, namely Vespasian, earned the purple robe.
Although Galba strove to uphold his line's reputation, his legacy suffers from his senescence and struggles during the chaotic Year of the Four Emperors. Ancient historian Tacitus, who lived in Galba's time, provides us perhaps the most appropriate epitaph: "
...by common consent he would have been pronounced equal to empire, had he never been emperor."
Additional Reading: J M Holtgrefe,
The Characterization of Civil War: Literary, Numismatic, and Epigraphical Presentations of the ‘Year of the Four Emperors’, 2011.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Galba, AD 68-69, AR Denarius (17 mm, 3.75 g, 6h), uncertain mint in Gaul (Narbo?), struck circa April-late autumn AD 68, NGC Grade: AU*, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 5/5, Fine Style, Obverse: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, SER GALBA IMPERATOR, Reverse: Victory standing left on globe, holding wreath and palm frond, VICTORIA P • R, References: RIC I 112; RSC 322h var. (bust type).