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Research Coins: Feature Auction

 

Rare Restoration Aureus

Triton XVI, Lot: 1056. Estimate $15000.
Sold for $14000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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.


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.