a High Grade Denarius of Nero---but....

All things considered, I think there is more to like than dislike about your coin, @Mikey Zee. The devices are very well struck and detailed. In spite of the problems with the legends, NERO CAESAR and VESTA are quite readable, and you can make out AVGVSTVS without much effort.

All in all, that portrait, that price, and that reverse... I call it a winner.

 

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I think thats an awesome find!

 

Great eye appeal!

 

Mikey, your coin has a lot of positives going for it: it has admirable detail for a Vesta denarius of Nero. Both the portrait as well as the reverse motif are well rendered and show very pleasant detail. Notice for example the seated figure within the temple: on most Vestas the seated figure cannot be recognized as such and lacks detail. The seat upon which the figure seats is almost never detailed. On yours it is and that is an exception.

On the downside, however, your denarius does seem have a few too many hairline cracks. As an interesting side note I will mention that in my experience many denarii from this era seems to have such cracks (you can see it also on one of my Nero posted here). I have seen them also on a few Galba denarii.

All in all I really think the positives outweigh the negatives on you coin, so well done on a nice addition to your collection!

Here are a few of my Nero denarii and some of my bronzes.

If you look closely, you will see a fine hairline crack on the denarius with the Legionary Eagles on reverse.

(Fwiw, I paid 300 euros for the Vesta)

 

A few Nero bronzes:

 

Big congrats Mikey.

 

Awesome posts everyone!!

A couple of bronzes--an As and a Dupondius:

 

The thing that I like best about that Vesta reverse @Mikey Zee is, for lack of a better word, the "white space." No clutter. Just an elegant design.

Here's my lonely Nero, with a lovely green patina that's difficult to photograph properly.

 

As much as I really like silver...I LOVE the bronze types a bit more!!

Terrific eye-appeal @Gavin Richardson

 

Beautiful coins, Eduard!

 

Here is my page of Nero coins, I hope that you will like it:

 

Those are beautiful coins Eduard, the standouts in my eyes are the triumphal arch and Macallum. My guess is both hit your bank account hard.

 

Don't sweat the small things, that's a great coin..

 

I like the strike and detail of your coin. The crack doesn't look too bad, just be gentle with it.

The obverse legends running off the edge would probably bother me enough that I would not have purchased this coin myself, but overall it looks nice.