I just obtained this Nero AS, Temple of Janus with the SC in the exergue. Checking the resource files I could find, I saw very few of this type with the SC in the exergue. I was just wondering how scarce this type is? Would anyone venture a guess? Thanks. Also, please post your Temple of Janus coins. I've always loved this type.
Is there any chance that you could: 1. Post the size and weight of your coin? Maybe it's a dupondius and not an as. 2. Post both the obverse and reverse legends? From the pictures I can't be sure of the legends on either side of the coin. I note that in RIC, there are Nero AES with the SC below the temple on the reverse, but these seem to be dupondii. Knowing the size, weight, and legends might clarify the attribution.
Notes: “The coins of Nero bearing the temple of Janus reverse motif are generally accepted to refer to the peace following cessation of Corbulo’s campaigns against the Parthians and the installation of Tiridates, Parthian nominee for the throne, as King of Armenia. This type is scarce; it was issued after Nero’s assumption of “Imperator” as a praenomen (mid-66 A.D.) and was probably discontinued when the Jewish war broke out in November 66 A.D., probably causing the doors of the Temple of Janus to be opened once again. Harvey Shore writes about these interesting coins this most engaging observation (from Australia, September 1999): 'I have before me now a Roman sestertius of the emperor Nero. On one side his portrait. Carved by a Greek in the year A.D. 66, it shows the fleshy bust produced by fleshy living. This bust tells a story for anyone with eyes to see. Then there is the legend - titles for an ill deserved imperial reputation. Each one speaking of a specific senatorial decree - those poor craven men fearing for their lives and their wives - both of which Nero was wont to abuse. So many stories. And on the reverse of this big coin is the Temple of Janus - a beautiful reverse picture reeking of history. The great temple, whose doors were never closed while there was war anywhere throughout the empire. The doors had only ever been closed three times in the past. Nero closed them. The legend around the reverse says (in Latin) [“The peace of the people of Rome having been brought forth on land and sea, he closed (the Temple of) Janus.”]'" In this As version, the legend varies from the sestertius: “There are many variations on these things but the one I like best is the as variation that shows the reverse legend as used on the sestertius PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT rather than the usual as legend PACE P R VBIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT. The smaller flan caused them to change ‘on land and sea’ to ‘everywhere’.” –Doug Smith AENEID, BOOK 7: Latinus was also commanded to declare war in this way on Aeneas’s people, and unbolt the sad gates, but the old man held back his hand, and shrank from the vile duty, hiding himself in dark shadows. Then the Queen of the gods, gliding from the sky, set the reluctant doors in motion, with her own hand: Saturn’s daughter forced open the iron gates of War on their hinges. Italy, once peaceful and immoveable, was alight. https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/VirgilAeneidVII.php#anchor_Toc3086159
Ok, here's the information: Ruler: Nero (Augustus) Coin: VF Bronze AS NERO CAESAR AVG GERM IMP - Laureate head right PACE P R VBIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT - Temple of Janus with latticed window to right and closed doors to left, S-C in exergue. Exergue: Mint: Rome (65 AD) Wt./Size/Axis: 10.93g / 28mm / 6h Rarity: Rare (SC in exergue) References: RIC I 306, 309 var. (SC in exergue), Sear 1974 var. (SC in exergue) Cohen 164 var. (SC in exergue) BMCRE p. 249, 232 var. (SC in exergue) Provenances: ex Munzen und Medaillen Ag Basel 1981
I just checked my "The Coinage of Nero" by Sydenham and the closest I could find was Cohen 163 var., the obverse legend being slightly different. This has really stumped me.
It seems like something that would be of great interest to a specialist. Looking through AC search I found only one similar coin: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=447728 Not a die match to either side. NERON (54-68), AE as, 65, Rome. Right: NERO CAESAR AVG GERM IMP Head l. to the right. Reverse: PACE PR VBIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT / SC View of Janus Temple, closed doors to the left. Ref .: BMC 244, 232; RIC 309. 10.55g. Brown patina. almost Very Beautiful a. VF Estimate: EUR 125 I wondered if the die engraver simply felt there wasn't enough space between the reverse legend and temple, but some coins of this type have as little or even less space and the engraver crammed it in anyway.
This information agrees with my copy of RIC. In particular, on p. 168, there is a footnote stating "309. A Vatican example has S C in ex." So it would just appear to be a rare/unusual variant of RIC 309.
Thanks IdesOfMarch01. I appreciate your post. When I didn't find the coin in Sydenham's "Coinage of Nero", I thought it must be rare. Thanks.
Very nice coin Gary R. Wilson haven't seen to many with the SC in exergue. What patina colour is yours? One of my favorite coins as well. Temple of Janus, Rome mint, 10.9gm, RIC 1 309.
Hi Ancient Aussie, mine is dark green. Sure would like to know exactly where the temple was located. Nice coin.
By the time I saw this thread, all has been said. There are many variations of these. Overall they are not rare but there may be some more scarce than others. All mine are asses.
Thanks Doug. I just couldn't find anything on this variation in any reference materials I could find. Like your coins. I'm surprised RIC doesn't have it listed. My Collection: http://www.tantaluscoins.com/browse.php?uname=Gary R. Wilson
Yes would be nice to know at the moment it's just guesswork, buy the way I just had a look at your collection on Tantalus Coins, very impressed some great types like your Nero triumphal arch and Tiberius temple (I can remember when it came up for auction) and I like the way you have a pic related to the coin makes it all the more interesting.
Thanks Ancient Aussie. Yeah I do the extra picture when I can to enhance the history of Rome with the ancient coins. Thanks for the compliment.
I owned this example once upon a time when I collected Imperial coins. It's a scarcer variety but there are others out there:
