Otho
Emperor January 15th – April 16th, 69 AD
Born 32 – Died 69 AD, Age 37
Marcus Salvius Otho was a close personal friend of Nero. During Nero’s reign, Otho had been Governor of Lusitania. Nevertheless, Otho supported Galba early in his reign, hoping that Galba would adopt him as a successor to the throne. When Otho’s patience wore thin, he orchestrated both Galba’s and Piso’s assassinations. Otho also lacked broad support, particularly among the legions of Lower Germany under the command of Vitellius. Otho’s legions were merely garrison troops stationed throughout Italy’s northern provinces.
Despite advice to wait for additional loyal troops arriving from Dalmatia, Otho’s impatience prompted him to send his troops across the Po River into Bedriacum while Otho himself remained behind in Brixellum located on the southern bank. Vitellius‘ superior German legions were experienced battle troops who easily defeated the legions of Otho. With his legions and support lost, Otho committed suicide on April 17th, 69 A.D., after a reign of barely three months.
Monetary System
Mints: Rome
Obverse Legend:
IMP M OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P
IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P
DENOMINATIONS
AU Aureus
AR Denarius (head right)
AR Denarius (rare head left)
COLONIAL
SYRIA
AR Tetradrachm
Æ As
EGYPT
AR Tetradrachm
Æ Hemidrachm
Æ Diobol
Æ Obol
Æ Hemiobol
(COUNTERFEIT)
Æ Sestertius by Giovanni Da Cavino 1500-1570
Æ Sestertius by Cavino 1500-1570 (Hd rt/Greeting troops)
Æ As by Cavina (Rev figure in the temple)
NOTE: There were no Sestertius issued by Otho
