Galba (AD July 68-January 69). AR denarius (19 mm, 3.21 gm). Very Fine. Rome. IMP SER GALBA-CAESAR AVG, laureate, draped bust of Galba right, seen from behind / SALVS GEN HVMANI, Fortuna-Salus, draped, standing left, right foot on globe, sacrificing from patera in right hand over lighted altar, vertical rudder in left. RIC 214
Salus Gen Humani was a legend introduced in the Civil War coinage associated with the revolt of Vindex, combined with a Victory type. This reverse is often interpreted to mean that the Victory of the revolt would be 'the World's Salvation.' Mattingly, in BMCRE (p. cxcvi), notes that Suetonius (Galba, 9) provides a comment related to this type: "an appeal comes from Vindex to Galba at Carthago Nova 'to lend his services as champion and leader of the human race.'" With the present issue, presumably struck near the time of his success over Nero, Galba pays homage to this war-cry of Vindex. The Victory type gives way to one of the 'Fortune of the Human Race', who is sacrificing in gratitude for the deliverance of the Romans from the vile Nero.