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Otho. AD 69. AV Aureus (19.5mm, 7.26 g, 5h). Rome mint. Struck 15 January-8 March. IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P, bare head right / PAX ORB IS TERRARVM, Pax, draped, standing left, holding olive branch in right hand and cradling caduceus in left arm. RIC I 3; Muona Group 1, Type 5A, Portrait Type B; Calicó 524; BMCRE 1-2; BN 2; Biaggi 270. Faint hairlines. Near EF. Attractive portrait. Very rare.
From the PLZ Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 52 (7 October 2009), lot 362.
Marcus Salvius Otho came from a wealthy noble Etruscan family. He was a minor functionary in the court of Nero, known more for his enthusiastic participation in the emperor’s revels than for any real competency. His one mistake was in introducing his beautiful wife Poppaea Sabina to his master. Very soon, Otho got the governorship of the remote province of Lusitania, and Nero got Poppaea. During the revolt of 68 AD, Otho aligned himself with his fellow governor Galba, fully expecting to be named the elderly emperor’s successor. When Galba instead designated Piso as his successor, the disappointed Otho joined the conspiracy against him. A bribe from Otho induced the Praetorian Guard to assassinate Galba on January 15, AD 69, after which Otho was proclaimed emperor and the Senate cowed into accepting his elevation. Recognizing the populace favored the fresh memory of Nero to that of Galba, Otho had the recently removed statues of Nero restored throughout Rome. Nero’s freedmen and officers were also reinstated.
The new emperor quickly learned of the serious threat posed by troops to the north, who had proclaimed Vitellius emperor. Roused to action, Otho moved his few loyal legions and the supportive Praetorians to engage those of Germania in northern Italy. The decisive battle of Bedriacum was a close-run affair but ended with a significant defeat of Otho’s forces. In perhaps his most noble gesture, Otho committed suicide rather than submit the empire to further civil war and bloodshed. His rule had lasted just three short months during the Year of the Four Emperors.
Otho’s Roman coinage is exclusively in silver and gold, hastily minted to pay the Praetorian officers and rank-and-file. His rather pudgy portrait depicts him with a suspiciously helmetlike head of hair, likely a wig worn to cover his bald head. The offered coin has an exceptional portrait in very high grade for an aureus of this emperor. A coin destined for the finest collection.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.
CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session One – Lot 1-318 will be held Monday morning, 18 May 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.
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