Got a very cheap Nero denarius at the local shop today. I don't know why but I couldn't pass it up once it was in my hand. I was going to the gem and mineral show to look for ancients, but it was canceled or the date had changed. So I decided to head over to the local coin shop. They had 4 new ancients; A couple Macedonian ae's, a nice Gratian I may go back for and this one. Better detail in hand, but not much. A true Randy grade coin.
Now this coin has changed hands a time or two, but like @Ancient Aussie said, the reverse is identifiable and a wonderful reverse to boot.
Shit Randy for 12 bucks ya cant go wrong for 2000 year old silver no matter the grade. Heres my only Nero denarius, not my picture not at my comp atm.
for 12 bucks ya can't go wrong..plus it takes the edge off the cancellation of the other thang.(i.e. i'm gettin' me a coin by jiggers!) the only coin i've ever had stolen was a nice denarious of Nero.
OK, Randy, you now officially hold the title for the lowest-priced Nero denarius ever! Great buy at 12 bucks! And I thought I did well with this one for 50 euros (55 bucks). (some misguided soul took a knife to it to clean it, I think)
From the pic it looks like it has a skin of silver or something over the detail, if that was to lift off it might be even better, what do yo think?
Exactly, didn't want to go home with out an ancient coin Sorry about yours being stolen :/ That ones way better than mine so you got the better deal
Don't try to clean it. The question we all ask on a coin that is less than we might wish is whether the coin is better than the alternative of no coin. We have members who can not tolerate an EF because they only will touch mint state perfection. There are those who fall in the middle. My desires for a silver Nero were not as strong as yours but I did pay 5x as much for one that was not even silver down deep. I doubt I would again. My experience with such coins is we someday will give them to someone or pay someone to take them. A fourree:
Nice @randygeki ! I believe now you hold the title of best value, and have usurped @Mat and @Bing ! You all are MASTERS! My only Nero... RI Nero AR Tetradrachm 54-68 CE Eagle
Now wait just a minute. We tolerate no usurpers in this empire! I am now recruiting to fill the slots in Anthony's old legions and we will march against any and all usurpers!!!!!!!!
I would not have thought that a coin of Nero. Like Rorschach images admitting to one of several interpretations,what I see is a Hadrian image.
It heavily crystallized and the surface has come off on the edge (12 o'clock to 4 o'clock area). I think thats what you seeing. I did keep that in mind when I got it. I told myself I won't always be happy with the coin and won't be able to sell it easily, but it would make a neat gift for someone someday if I grow tired of it My first thought when I saw it was Flavian, but in hand when I move it around it looks like Nero.
