092: Rome. Otho, January-April 69 AD. Gold Aureus (7.3g
(item 320247624710 
Ended May-26-08

Seller:i-lgoldbergcoinsandcollectibles

Rome. Otho, January-April 69 AD. Gold Aureus (7.38 g), Rome 
mint. Bare head of Otho right. Reverse: Securitas standing 
left, holding wreath and scepter; SECVRITAS P R. RIC 7 (R-2); 
C. 16; BMCRE 13. Finely centered, and perfectly struck, on 
nice round, full flan. Choice portrait, with delicate reddish 
tone. In a superb state of preservation for this very rare 
issue. NGC graded About Uncirculated. 

One of Rome's briefest reigning emperors -- though little can 
be said in affirmation of Otho's ephemeral reign, and perhaps 
even less about the nature of the man himself. Tacitus 
described him as an "extravagant young man" who devoted 
himself to "sensuousness" and to "fashionable pursuits." He 
was renowned for his vanity, his fastidious grooming, and 
especially for the splendid toupees that covered his balding 
head. The wigs are so vividly, and almost always meticulously, rendered on his coin portraits, with a manicured care that one almost suspects Otho himself to have personally approved each of the dies for his coins.

Estimated Value $50,000 - 60,000. 

Our item number 115747

Images & text re-used by permission, courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers, Beverly Hills, CA