Would greatly appreciate your help properly attributing this low grade/corroded ADLOCVT sestertius of Nero. The obverse legend reads (as best as I can tell): IMP NERO CAESAR AVG PONTI(F) MAX TRIB POT PP (the last few characters are very difficult to read. I hope I am not just guessing). According to RIC I this would be obverse 70a. The problem is, I am unable to match it to any of the Adlocvtio varieties for either Rome or Lugdunum. Also as best I can tell there is a globe at the point of the bust therefore denoting Lugdunum. Thanks!
I have searched for an obverse die match to see if that is some assistance but without luck thus far. I am away from my references but will have a browse later. Regards, Martin
This coin is very, very puzzling. In my copy of RIC, the only Nero sestertius whose obverse legend contains "...PONTIF MAX..." is, as you cite, obverse 70A. It also seems clear that the reverse is some sort of AD LOCVTIO scene, but there are no matches of this obverse and reverse in RIC. Is it possible you've uncovered a unique type?
NERO. 54-68 AD. Æ Sestertius . Lyon mint. Struck circa 66 AD. IMP NERD CAESAR AVG PONTIF MAX TRIB POT P P, laureate head right, globe at point of bust / ADLOCVT COH in exergue, S C across field, Nero standing left on daïs with praetorian prefect, addressing three soldiers, two of whom hold standards; tristyle domed building behind. BMC -; Coh. -; RIC² 492.(Image courtesy Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG) http://www.ancientcoins.ca/RIC/RIC1/RIC1_Nero_401-622.htm
I think this might be correct. If the obverse is 70B (Nero Laureate right) rather than 70A, then there IS an AD LOCVTIO reverse. It certainly seems possible that Nero is laureate on this obverse.
Thank you very much, Ro and IdesOfMarch01. I believe you have solved the mystery. It was my oversight. As you both mention, this is actually obverse 70B, not 70A. Many thanks!
