One Of The Finest Known – RPC Online Feature Coin

5714731.

SOLD $995

EGYPT, Alexandria. Galba. AD 68-69. Æ Hemidrachm (32mm, 15.30 g, 12h). Dated RY 2 (AD 68/9). ΣEPOYI ΓΑΛΒΑ AYTO ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒA, laureate head right / Bust of Nilus right, wearing taenia, slight drapery on left shoulder; cornucopia behind his right shoulder; L B (date) to right. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G 17.25; RPC I 5348.6 (this coin, illustrated for type); Emmett 178.2 (R4). Brown patina, cleaning scratches. VF. Struck on a broad flan. Very rare.

Ex Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Roma Numismatics, 30 July 2011.

Galba continued Nero’s emphasis on the production of billon tetradrachms at the Alexandrian mint. His bronze coinage, while not quite as rare as Nero’s, is known only from his second regnal year. The authors of RPC cite only six examples for this hemidrachm type, with an additional two in CoinArchives. This is the finest recorded example.