I ran across this one on Herakles Numismatics, Nero readable name and Caesar, Augustus no as readable.
I am a budget collector, so I always say buy the best coin in the best condition you can afford. If this is it, go for it. But to be honest, I don’t find a lot of eye appeal to that coin, especially the reverse. I would be more patient and wait for a more attractive example. But I’m sure I’ve purchased coins that others would’ve given me the same advice for.
It's nice enough, but the portrait style would not be quite what I'd want. Reminds me more of a provincial portrait than an imperial one. But, I'm picky when it comes to that.
Antiochs look more like imperials, portrait wise. Nero (54 - 68 A.D.) Seleucis & Pieria, Antioch AR Tetradrachm O: NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GER, laureate head of Nero right; star behind. R: [DIVOS] CLAVD AVG GERMANIC PATER AVG, laureate head of Claudius right. Syrian Mint - 63-68 AD 14.11g 26mm Prieur 48; RPC I 4123; BMC 172; Sydenham 65 (Caesarea); RSC 2; McAlee 270.
Yeah I think of all the provincial mints, Antioch was the best in fine portraiture (and artistry in general).
Looks all right to me, if the price is right. Sure, not perfect, but not bad, either. My very first Nero was also a SALVS denarius, and the one above is much better than mine was. (If memory serves, I paid about a hundred bucks for that one, in 2007, when I had just started collecting ancients.)
I paid more than that Lordmarcovan, But in 07 I bought several very nice Denarius for 95 bucks. Same with most things. What I paid 10 years ago looks really cheap today on most things.
