Reproduction Aureus of Otho - Pax

Obverse: Bare head of Otho right. Text around IMP OTHO CAESAR AVG TR P (Supreme commander (Imperator) Otho, Caesar and emperor (Augustus), tribunician power).

Reverse: Pax in stola (long pleated dress) standing left with laurel branch in outstretched right hand and caduceus held across left arm. Text around PAX ORBIS TERRARVM.

History: Galba, the previous emperor, was killed by the Praetorians on 15 January 69, followed shortly by Vinius and Piso, and Otho was proclaimed emperor. Otho was Roman emperor for only three months, from 15 January to 16 April 69. He was the second emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors.

Otho's short rule resulted in gold and silver coins, but no official bronze imperial coinage. The reverse of this coin bears the image of Pax (Latin for Peace), the Roman goddess of peace. The inscription PAX ORBIS TERRARVM, meaning 'peace all over the world' or 'peace of the whole universe', is rather boastful, especially since Rome was sinking to the most degenerate stage of its civil war during the period which Otho reigned.

Date: 15 January – 16 April, 69 AD

Diameter: 1.8cm