Civil War 69-69 AD
Gaius Julius Vindex descended from the kings of Aquitania. He was the son of a Roman senator who was governor of Gallia Lugdunenis. At the time, he raised the standards of revolt against Nero in March 68AD as a reaction to Nero’s tax policy. Having no Roman troops under his command, Vindex appealed to other provincial governors to support his uprising, an invitation which was answered only by Servius Sulpicius Galba in Spain (Tarraconensis). Even his own provincial capital of Lugdunum, refused to join his cause. However, Vienna (modern Vienne) in Narbonensis did side with him and was the probable place to mintage the coins struck during his revolt (none of which bear his name or portrait). In May, the rebellion of Vindex was crushed when his army was defeated at Vesontio by L. Verginius Rufus, governor of Upper Germany. Just a few weeks later, Nero committed suicide, and soon afterward, Galba was formally recognized as emperor by the Roman Senate.
Vindex’s coinage did not display his portrait in a direct attempt to resurrect the old Republic before Augustus (27BC-14AD). Even though Vindex was defeated, popularity was growing for a rebellion, and thus, Galba was looked upon as a favorite. Sensing this, Nero fled Rome. Shortly after, the Senate decided to oust Nero by declaring him a public enemy, thus spurring Nero’s suicide. His death saw the arrival of the first civil war since the defeat of Marc Antony in 30 BC. Consequently, between June 68 AD and December 69 AD, Rome witnessed a period of anarchy and a series of quick successions. Four Emperors ruled in this period: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian, with the latter securing the imperial throne and founding the Flavian dynasty.
Therefore, the Civil War begins with this series of coins that were struck without the contemporary portrait of an emperor, as had been the case since the time of Augustus during the birth of the Imperial Era. Instead, we find various types being issued with an assortment of Roman gods, including the Divine Augustus.
Legion X is a very rare countermark that was applied locally shortly after the death of Nero in one of the Upper Danubian provinces, probably Pannonia. Legio X Gemirta was stationed at Camuntum. The countermark appears almost exclusively on aes of Nero from the mint at Lugdunum. Here are two Sestertius with Legion “X” countermarks. All of the published specimens have the countermark applied on the obverse so as not to obscure the portrait’s features. These counterstamps apparently expressed loyalty to the imperial side during the Civil War of 68-70.
AUGUSTUS ISSUES
AU Aureus (Radiate Augustus rt/Pax) RIC 114
AU Aureus (Augustus bare rt/AVGVSTVS below Capricorn) RIC81
AR Denarius (Laur hd Augustus rt/Bull) (UNIQUE) one known RIC 94 var
AR Denarius (Bared hd left/OB CIVES wreath) RIC-
AR Denarius (Bared hd rt/SPQR wreath) RIC 106
AR Denarius (Augustus bare hd rt/Capricorn) RIC3
AR Denarius (Augustus bare hd rt NO LEGEND/Capricorn) RIC2
AR Denarius (Radiate Hd rt/Winged Caduceus) RIC5
AR Denarius (Laur hd rt/Caius+Lucius CÆs) RIC6
AR Denarius (Laur hd rt NO LEGEND/Victory stg left) RIC7
AR Denarius (Laur hd rt NO LEGEND/Concordia seated) RIC8
AR Denarius (Laur hd rt/Comet 8 rays) BMC49 S98a
AR Denarius (Laur hd rt/Bull walking rt) RIC9
AR Denarius (Radiate Hd rt/Diana running rt) RIC11
AR Denarius (Laur hd rt/Jupiter stg left) RIC-G5
AR Denarius (Bared hd left/OB CIVES wreath) 1 RIC12
AR Denarius (Laur hd rt/PAX clasped hands) RIC13
AR Denarius (Rad hd rt/PAX clasped hands) RIC-DA2
AR Denarius (Laur hd Left/SENAT Victory walking left) RIC-21/22
AR Denarius (Rad hd rt/SENAT Victory walking left) RIC-DA5
AR Denarius (Laur hd Left/Cupid+dolphin) RIC17
AR Denarius (Laur hd Rt/SPQR wreath) 1 RIC16
AR Denarius (Bare hd rt/SPQR wreath) BMC54 S284a
AR Denarius (Bare hd rt/SPQR on shield) RIC18
AR Denarius (Laur hd Rt/SPQR PP OBCS wreath) RIC20
AR Denarius (Laur hd Rt No Legend/Victory on Globe) RIC23
AR Denarius (Laur hd Left/Quadriga) RIC24
AR Denarius (Radiate Augustus rt/Crescent 7 Stars) 1 RIC95v
AR Denarius (Laur hd rt/Bull butting left) RIC 100 BMC51 S159a
AR Denarius (Bare hd rt/SPQR CL V 2 palms) 1 RIC 108
AR Denarius (Radiate Augustus rt/Victory walking left with globe) RIC 116
AR Denarius (Radiate Augustus rt/Victory walking left with globe) RIC 116
AR Denarius (Augustus bare hd rt/trophy prow) 1 RIC- (Spain) VF EXTREMELY RARE UNIQUE
AR Denarius (Helmeted Roma rt/DIVUS JULIUS & Comet) UNIQUE, Exceptionally rare & highly important
AR Denarius (Augustus rt/DIVUS JULIUS & Comet) RIC 92
CALIGULA
AR Denarius (Laurel Caligula rt /SPQR OB CS in wreath)
FEMALE DEITY
AU Aureus (Female bust rt/Roma stg rt hldg Vic) 1 RIC8 XF 7.3
AU Aureus (Female bust rt/VIRTUS stg l r knee bent) RIC13
AR Denarius (Female bust rt/Roma stg rt hldg Vic)
AR Denarius (BON EVENT Female bust rt/Roma stg rt hldg Vic) 1 RIC 9
AR Denarius (BON EVENT Female bust rt/Vic stg globe)
AR Denarius (BON EVENT Female bust rt/Virtus stg) RIC S29
AR Denarius (BON EVENT Female bust rt/OB CIVIS wreath) UNKNOWN
AR Denarius (BON EVENT Female bust rt/Clasped Hands) RICS11
AR Denarius (BON EVENT ET FELICITAS Female bust rt/Clasped Hands)
AR Denarius (MONETA bust rt/implements) RICS26
GALBA
AR Denarius (Bust Hispania right/Galba on Horseback left) RIC9
GALLIA
AR Denarius (Bust Gallia rt w/trumpet/hands
AR Denarius (Bust Gallia+Concordia facing/Biga) RIC S27
GENIUS
AU Aureus (GENIVS bust rt bearded/MARS VLTOR Mars adv rt) RIC43
AR Denarius (Bust Genius rt diad & bearded/Jupiter seated) RICM10
AR Denarius (Bust Genius rt diad & bearded/Mars stg) RICG11
AR Denarius (Bust Genius Lf diad & bearded/Mars stg) RIC181
AR Denarius (Bust Genius Rt diad & bearded/Legion stands) RICG32
AR Denarius (Genius hd rt cornucopia/Mars walking) 1 RIC18 (Spain)
AR Denarius (Young Genius rt Cornucopia/Mars stg) RICS-2
AR Denarius (Young Genius rt Cornucopia/Clasped hands) RICS14
AR Denarius (Young Genius rt Cornucopia/SPQR wreath) RICG14
HERCULES
AR Denarius (Laur Beared Hercules rt/Fortuna stg) 1 RIC1 Gaul VF/XF PLATED
HISPANIA
AR Denarius (HISPANIA laur bust rt/SPQR wreath) RIC G40
AR Denarius (Draped Hispania rt/Mars stg) RICS5 PLATED
JUPITER
AU Aureus (Jupiter hd Left/Vesta seated left) hunt 1 RIC124
AR Denarius (Jupiter hd Left/Vesta seated) 1 RIC125a
AR Denarius (Jupiter hd Left/Vesta seated) 1 RIC 125b
AR Denarius (Jupiter hd Left No Leg/Genius stg) C366a BMC12
LIBERTY
AU Aureus (Libertas rt/SPQR around shield) RIC26
AR Denarius (Libertias/Shield) 1 RIC27
AR Denarius (Veiled Libertias/Mars stg) RICG5 UNKNOWN
AR Denarius (Veiled Libertias/Mars stg rt) RIC-GR7 UNKNOWN
AR Denarius (Libertias/2 Daggers) RICS9
AR Denarius (Roman Citizen left LIBERTIAS/SP-QR Victory rt) RIC- (UNIQUE)
MARS
AU Aureus (MARS VLTOR Mars adv rt/SPQR in oak-wreath) RIC53
AR Denarius (MARS VLTOR Mars adv rt/SPQR in oak-wreath)
AR Denarius (Helmeted Mars/Eagle Stnds) 1 RIC51
AR Denarius (Adv Mars/SPQR) 1 RIC54
MINERVA
AU Aureus (Minerva helm rt/SECVRITAS in long tunic) RIC37
AR Denarius (Minerva helm rt/SECVRITAS seated) RICG31
AR Denarius (Minerva Stg rt/Leg standards) RIC G37
AR Denarius (Minerva Stg rt/SPQR wreath) RIC G21
ROMA
AR Denarius (Helmeted Roma rt VIRTVS/Shield SPQR) 1 RIC215
AR Denarius (Helmeted Roma rt/Jupiter seated) 1 RIC62
AR Denarius (Helmeted Roma rt/Leg standards) RICG36
AR Denarius (Bare hd Roma rt/OB CIVIS wreath)
AR Denarius (Bare hd Roma rt/SPQR wreath) RIC S24
SALVS
AU Aureus (SALVS ET LIBERTAS helm female stg/SPQR in oak-wreath) RIC65
AU Aureus (SALVS GENERIS Vic stg globe /SPQR in oak-wreath) RIC71A/B
AU Aureus (SALVS rt/CONCORDIA stg lf) 1 RIC134
AR Denarius (SALVS GENERIS Vic stg globe facing left/SPQR in oak-wreath) 1 RIC72
AR Denarius (SALVS GENERIS Vic stg globe facing right/SPQR in oak-wreath) 1 RIC73
AR Denarius (SALVS PVBLIC Drape bust rt/Roma stg) 1 RIC36
VESTA
AR Denarius (Veiled Vesta hd rt)
AR Denarius (Veiled Vesta hd rt) FOURRE’ 1 RIC128a VF 2.55
AR Denarius (Veiled Vesta hd rt/CLASPED HANDS) RICM4 Germany
AR Denarius (Veiled Vesta hd rt/Jupiter seated) RICM7 Germany
AR Denarius (Veiled Vesta hd rt/SENATVS Victory adv lf) RICM9
VENUS
AR Denarius (Dia bust Venus rt/clasped hands) DOUBTFUL
VICTORY
AR Denarius (Victory stg rt/Mars stg) Questionable
AR Denarius (Victory stg rt/Leg standars) RICG38
AR Denarius (Victory stg rt/SPQR wreath) RIC G25
AR Denarius (Victory stg globe/SPQR wreath) 1 RIC G73a
AR Denarius (Victory stg globe/SPQR OB wreath) RIC G29
VINDEX (Spain)
AU Aureus (MARS VLTOR Mars adv rt/SPQR in oak-wreath) RIC53
AR Denarius (MARS VLTOR Mars adv rt/SPQR in oak-wreath)
AR Denarius (Adv Mars/SPQR) 1 RIC54
AR Denarius (Helmeted Mars/Eagle Stnds) 1 RIC51
AR Denarius (Victory stg left/SPQR wreath) 1 RIC72
AR Denarius (Victory stg right/SPQR wreath) 1 RIC73a
AR Denarius (Victory stg left/SPQR wreath)
AR Denarius (Augustus left/OB CIVES SERVAT) 1 BMC52
AR Denarius (Augustus rt/SPQR Wreath) 1 BMC55
AR Denarius (Minerva stg rt spear shield/SPQR Wreath) 1 BMC29/RIC66 plated
VIRTUS
AR Denarius (Helmeted Virtus rt/Jupiter seated) RIC7 Gaul PLATED
VULCAN
AR Denarius (Beared hd Vulcan w/cap rt) RICG2 Gaul
AR Denarius (Beared hd Vulcan w/Leg standards) RIC G39
MISC
MILITARY ISSUES OF UPPER GERMANY
AR Denarius (FIDES clasped hands/Concordia stg left) 1 RIC118
AR Denarius (FIDES clasped hands/Concordia stg left) 1 RIC118 FOURREE
AR Denarius (FIDES clasped hands/FIDES clasped hands) 1 RICM5 FOURREE
AR Denarius (FIDES clasped hands/SPQR wreath) plated
AR Denarius (PAX ET clasped hands with Caduceus/SPQR in wreath)
AR Denarius (Helmeted young male hd rt/LEG XV)
AR Denarius (Citizen stg/Victory stg) RICS21
AR Denarius (Nemesis adv rt/SPQR wreath) RIC G22
AR Denarius (PAX Nemesis adv rt/SPQR wreath) RIC G18
AR Denarius (PAX 2 joined hands/SPQR wreath) RIC G19
AR Denarius (RMA 2 joined hands/SPQR wreath) PLATED
AR Denarius (SPQR wreath/SPQR wreath) UNKNOWN
COUNTERMARKS
Countermarks on Roman coins generally served one of three main purposes.
(1) Confirm the validity of a coin typically when it has been worn significantly
(2) When the authority that issued the coin was discredited, such as Nero during the Civil War
(3) To reassign a value to the coin that had been in circulation for some time, often devaluing the coin from a sestertius to a dupondius, often found on barbaric imitations.
Monetary System
Mints: Rome, Tarraco, Vienna, Carthage
DENOMINATIONS
AU Aureus (6.54 grams)
AR Cistoporous
AR Denarius
Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As
