Otho. AD 69. AV Aureus (20mm, 7.16 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck 15 January-8 March. Good VF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 708. Estimated: $ 15 000

Roman Imperial, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 38 750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Otho. AD 69. AV Aureus (20mm, 7.16 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck 15 January-8 March. IMP OTHO CΛESΛR AVG TR P, bare head right / SECVR I TAS P R, Securitas, draped, standing left, holding wreath in right hand and scepter in left. RIC I 9; Muona Group 2, Type 9A, Portrait Type B; Calicó 529; cf. BMCRE p. 366, note †; BN 9; Adda 43; Biaggi 273; Mazzini 14. Smoothing and tooling. Good VF.

Ex Triton XXV (11 January 2022), lot 814; Künker 312 (8 October 2018), lot 2820; Künker 273 (14 March 2016), lot 674; Gorny & Mosch 224 (13 October 2014), lot 471.

Marcus Salvius Otho 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. With Nero’s downfall, Otho aligned himself with his fellow governor Galba, fully expecting to be named the elderly emperor’s successor. When Galba designated Piso as his successor, the disappointed Otho joined the conspiracy that lead to Galba’s assassination. Otho himself would perish three months later, by his own hand as the armies of Vitellius approached Rome.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session Three – Lot 648–983 will be held Wednesday morning, 10 January 2024 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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