CNG - Otho. Ć of Antioch. Rare! Good Fine.
Item #128248585

Currently $265.00        First bid  $99.00
Started   07/07/99,
Ends      07/14/99,
Seller    cngcoins (328)

     Syria, Seleukis and Pieria. Antioch. Otho. 69 AD. Ć 28mm (13.19
     gm). IMP M OTHO AVG, laureate head right / Large S C within
     wreath. RPC 4320; Wruck 68. Good Fine, unusual mottled brown and
     tan patina. 714059.

     Ex Mario Ratto (1952), lot 5500.

     Marcus Salvius Otho's 90-day reign was bracketed by two acts, one
     of treachery and one of self-sacrifice. He grew up as a pampered
     playboy and became a flatterer of the Emperor Nero. He was famous
     for wearing a carefully made toupee (visible in his coin
     portraits) and softening his beard every morning with a poultice
     of moist bread. His life of luxury changed when Nero took a fancy
     to Otho’s beautiful wife, Poppaea. Otho was packed off to govern
     Lusitania (Portugal), and began plotting revenge. He supported
     Galba’s revolt and stood among the first to proclaim the old man
     Emperor. Returning to Rome, he wormed his way into Galba’s inner
     circle and fully expected to be named heir apparent. Instead,
     Galba chose someone else, and Otho began plotting against him.
     Playing on Galba’s stingy reputation, he bribed the Praetorian
     Guard to murder the old skinflint and proclaim him Emperor
     instead. Almost immediately, he faced another revolt--this time
     by the governor of Germany, Vitellius. Otho gathered his forces
     and hurried north to meet Vitellius’ army at Cremona. Afraid of
     defections, he attacked too soon and suffered a major defeat.
     Otho’s backers urged to hold out until reinforcements could
     arrive and continue the fight. Instead, he committed suicide to
     spare Rome a continuance of civil war.

     Otho's reign was so brief, he struck no bronze coins at Rome,
     only gold aurei and silver denarii. Only provincial mints such as
     Antioch struck bronze for Otho.