Rare Restoration Aureus
1056. Galba. AD 68-69. AV Aureus (18mm, 7.10 g, 6h). Restoration issue. Rome mint. Struck under Trajan, AD 107. GALBA • IMPERATOR, Laureate head right / IMP CAES TRAIAN AVG GER DAC P P REST, Libertas standing left, holding pileus and scepter. RIC II 824 (Trajan); Komnick type 63.1, 1 (V1/R1); Calicó 521 (same dies). VF, traces of deposits. Very rare. ($15,000) In 107 AD, Trajan decided to demonetize the precious metal coinage issued prior to Nero’s reform in AD 64. This resulted in a substantial gain for the government as these coins that were melted down were of a heavier and purer metal content than those that would replace them. At the same time, Trajan issued a wonderful series of restoration coins of some of the principal types of Republican denarii and a series of aurei honoring Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Claudius, Galba, coins of the Civil War, Vespasian, Titus and Nerva. The aurei are not true restoration coins of earlier types, but instead offer a commentary on the contemporary perspective of the previous emperors significance to Roman history. This coin uses an obverse of Galba with a reverse type portraying Libertas. Trajan wanted to emphasize the glory of Rome and the role Galba played in rescuing the Roman people from unrest and revolt against Nero, thus restoring constitutional government.
1057. Otho. AD 69. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.31 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck 15 January-8 March AD 69. IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, bare head right / SECVR I TAS P R, Securitas, draped, standing left, holding wreath in right hand and cradling scepter in left. RIC I 8; RSC 17; BMCRE 17-18 var. (break in rev. legend); BN 10 var. (same). Good VF, toned, some minor porosity, traces of deposits, light edge marks, faint marks under tone. ($1500) From the Chiltern Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 54 (14 June 2000), lot 1485.
1058. Vitellius. AD 69. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.03 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa April-December AD 69. [A] VITELLIVS GERMAN IMP TR P, laureate head right / LIBERTAS RESTITVTA, Libertas standing facing, head right, holding pileus in outstretched right hand and scepter in left. RIC I 81; RSC 4; BMCRE 13; BN -. EF, toned. ($1500) From the RCM Collection. Ex Triton XII (6 January 2009), lot 568; Gorny & Mosch 129 (8 March 2004), lot 298.
1059. Vitellius. AD 69. AR Denarius (18mm, 2.95 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa April-December AD 69. A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head right / XV VIR SACR FAC, Tripod-lebes surmounted by dolphin right; below, raven perched right. RIC I 109; RSC 111; BMCRE 39-40; BN 77. VF, toned, slightly granular surfaces, scattered marks. ($500) From the Chiltern Collection.
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