GALBA COIN ANATOMY

An emperor's portrait is normally the first thing that stands out on a roman coin, and in this case it is easily recognizable as that of Galba. His dignified look befits his position as emperor, but just so there can be no confusion about his position he is often shown wearing a laurel wreath in his hair. This laurel wreath is the "Laureate Corona" which during the Republican period was conferred only on one who had achieved the highest pro-consular dignity. Around 44 BC, Julius Caesar reserved it as a symbol of the supreme ruler and starting with Augustus it became a symbol of the emperor, conferred only on those holding the title of "Augustus".

Just in case one is not familiar with the portrait, the coin conveniently tells through the obverse and reverse inscriptions exactly who is being imaged - understanding these inscriptions is critical in understanding the coin. Mostly starting at 6 o'clock and reading clockwise around, the following combinations can be found on Galba Coins:

SER GALBA AVG		IMP AVG SER GALBA
SER GALBA AVG TRP		IMP GALBA
SER GALBA CAESAR AVG		IMP GALBA CAESAR AVG PP
SER GALBA CAESAR AVG TR P		IMP SER GALBA
SER GALBA IMP AVG		IMP SER GALBA AVG
SER GALBA IMP CAES AVG		IMP SER GALBA AVG P M
SER GALBA IMP CAES AVG P M TR P		IMP SER GALBA AVG TR P
SER GALBA IMP CAES AVG TR P		IMP SER GALBA AVGVSTVS
SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG		IMP SER GALBA CAE AVG TR P
SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG P M T P		IMP SER GALBA CAES AVG P M TR P
SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG P M TR P		IMP SER GALBA CAES AVG PON M TR P
SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG P M TR P P P		IMP SER GALBA CAES AVG TR P
SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG PO MA TR P		IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG
SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG PON M TR P P P		IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG P M
SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG PON M TR POT		IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG P M TR P
SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG PON MA TR P		IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG TR P
SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG PONT MAX TR P		IMP SER SVLP GALBA CAES AVG TR P
SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG TR		IMP SER SVLP GALBA CAESAR AVG TR P
SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG TR P		IMP SER SVLPIC GALBA CAES AVG TR P
SER GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG TR P P P R		IMP SER SVLPICIVS GALBA CAESAR AVG
SER GALBA IMPERATOR		IMPERATOR GALBA
SER SVLPI GALBA IMP CAE AVG P M TR P		IMPERATOR SER GALBA
SER SVLPI GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG P M TR P
SER SVLPI GALBA IMP CAESAR AVG TR P

Obverse Inscription

SER SERV	SERVIUS Masculine Ancient Roman praenomen (=a first name), or given name, meaning "to preserve" from Latin servo.

SVLP SVLPI SVLPIC SVLPICIVS	SULPICIUS The first name of a citizen of ancient Rome, as Gaius in Gaius Julius Caesar.

IMP	IMPERATOR Meaning as a praenomen of the Emperor, indicating he is emperor and supreme commander of the Roman Army (a little like the term "Commander and Chief for the US president).

CAE CAES CAESAR	CAESAR This was the family name of Julius Caesar, assumed as a name by Augustus (Caesar's adopted son) and became part of the name of members of Julio-Claudian house that ruled Rome until the death of Nero. After Nero, CAESAR became a title meaning a person of great dignity, and a dignitary of the second rank (one in line to become IMPERATOR). However the title was retained once one became Emperor, still indicated a person of great dignity.

AVG AVGVSTVS	AUGUSTUS Augustus, the honorific title (originally mean "worthy of veneration") bestowed on Octavian by the Senate on 16 January 27 BC and thereafter adopted by all of his successors as an indication of their supreme authority.

P M PON M PON MA PONT MAX	PONTIFEX MAXIMUS Meaning "High Priest". The holder of this title was the highest priest of Roman religion and official head of the college of pontifices. As the chief administrator of religious affairs he regulated the conduct of religious ceremonies, consecrated temples and other holy places, and controlled the calendar. As was normal, the title was assumed by Galba when he became Emperor in AD 68. This title once conferred was held for life. During the time of the empire, and until Christianity became firmly established, the emperor was designated pontifex maximus. After the supremacy of Christianity, the popes assumed the title.

TR P TR POT	TRIBUNICIA POTESTAS Meaning "Tribune of the People". Officially the title mean Galba was a protector of the rights of the plebeians, but in reality it allowed him to do almost anything he wished to do. It not only gave him the power to convene or dismiss the Senate, but included veto power over the Senate's decisions. The title was renewed annually and while not the case for Galba, on some coins it is followed by a number indicating how many times it had been awarded and thus can be used to accurately date many other coins.

P P	PATER PATRIAE Pater Patriae means "father of his country". This was a purely honorary title which only some Emperors used, and did not confer any additional powers to the Emperor.

Reverse Inscription

S C

SENATUS CONSULTO

”By decree of the Senate,” intimates that coins were struck by the public authority of the Senate, according to the constitution of the Republic and the laws of the Roman mint. S C is not found on imperial gold and silver money, leading some scholars to believe that the right to mint bronze coinage was permitted to the Senate, while the emperor appropriated to himself the right to mint gold and silver.

S P Q R

SENATUS POPULUSQUE ROMANUS

Meaning "The Senate and the Roman People". The traditional formula expressing the joint authority of the conscript fathers and the common citizenry. Although having little meaning in Imperial times it continues to appear quite regularly on the coinage down to the time of Constantine the Great.

Reverse Image

CONCORD AVG S C across field, Pax seated left, holding olive branch in right hand and cradling sceptre in left arm, left forearm leaning on back of chair	This reverse legend describes the figure as Concordia, the olive branch she holds is more frequently associated with Pax. Because the high anxiety Rome had experienced in the recent revolution compelled Galba to re-establish immediately a sense of peace and stability, the juxtaposition between the coin's reverse legend and figure underscored his attempt to do so. The peace resulting from the suppression of a revolt ensured concord throughout the capital as well as the empire.
CONCORDIA PROVINCIAR VM Concordia standing left holding patera in right hand and cornucopia over left shoulder	The goddess of Concord was an object of Roman religion and worship whose temples were found throughout Rome. The reverse presents Concordia standing left and holding a patera and cornucopia. The patera represents honors given to this goddess while the cornucopia symbolizes the prosperity of the Roman Empire.
DIVA AVGVSTA Livia, draped, standing left, holding patera in right hand and vertical scepter in left hand	To help legitimize his imperial claim, Galba emphasized his connection to the Julio-Claudians through his relationship with Livia. He had been one of her favorites and through her influence rose to high office early in his career. She left him a considerable sum in her will.
LIBERTAS PVBLICA Libertas standing, holding a pileus in right hand and scepter in left	This coin announces Galba as the new ruler of the Roman Empire and the liberator of the Romans from the brutal ways of the emperor Nero. The reverse shows the goddess Libertas carrying a pileus and a scepter. To the left and right of her is the legend Senatus Consulto. The scene is surrounded by LIBERTAS PVBLICA which means “freedom of the people.”
PAX AVGVST Pax standing draped and holding olive branch in right hand and cornucopia in left	The personification of Peace, known to the Romans as Pax, was a common theme on Roman Imperial coins. Emperors often desired to promote their reigns as times of peace and prosperity as the emperor Galba desired himself. The reverse of this coin presents Pax personified carrying an olive branch and cornucopia which were both symbolic of peace and prosperity within the Roman Empire. The legend PAX AVGVSTa, “Augustan Peace” along with S C appear as well.
SPQR OB CIV SER in three lines surrounded by oak wreath	This particular coin type honors Galba as the savior of the citizens. This honor was originally bestowed upon Augustus who was credited with saving the Roman citizens from the clutches of civil wars and for restoring the Roman citizens to freedom who had been prisoners in Parthia in 20 BC. The reverse contains the legend Senatus PopulusQue Romanus OB CIV(es) SER(vatos) in three lines encircled by an oak wreath which refers to the honor bestowed upon Galba by the Senate and Roman People because he saved the citizens.
VESTA seated holding patera in right hand and torch in left hand	Vesta was an important divinity in Rome since she was the goddess of the hearth and of fire and was symbolic of earth as well. That is why her temple in Rome was round and held a fire which was kept burning by the Vestal Virgins. The appearance of Vesta on this coin refers to emperor Galba's involvement in state religion. Vesta appears on the reverse seated, holding a patera which was symbolic of rites carried out in her honor and a torch which identifies her as the goddess of the hearth.
VICTORY advancing holding statue of Minerva and palm	The accession of Galba to the principate of Rome and the downfall of Nero was portrayed on coinage as a victorious achievement although his rule was short lived. The reverse shows Victoria walking left holding a statue of Minerva and a palm branch. The palm serves as the symbol of victory while Minerva is the attribute by which victory was achieved. Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom, reason, and prudence and being armed with a helmet, armor, and a spear was also the deity of both war and peace.