I was lucky enough to pick this Nero Sestertius up at a recent CNG auction (420) and recieved today, have been after an afordable one with reasonable detail especially of the arch as when Nero's portrait is in good detail the prices go through the roof regardless of the reverse this one with a bit of wear on his portrait suited my budget. Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 21.62 g, 6h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck circa AD 66. Laureate head left, globe at point of neck / Triumphal arch, showing the front, with a wreath hung across it, surmounted by the emperor in facing quadriga accompanied by Pax and Victory, flanked by two soldiers; statue of Mars in side niche; the faces and plinths of the arch are ornamented with elaborate reliefs. RIC I 500; WCN 452; Lyon 191. Near VF, brown patina. LET'S SEE YOUR NERO COINS.
That's a very nice example, with some wear, yes, but both obverse and reverse are OK and the overall impression is well balanced. That's one coin I would gladly welcome in my trays, congrats ! Q
Nice example, Ancient Aussie. There is a good amount of detail on the arch. I waited a few years before I was able to add an example to my collection:
Fantabulous acquisition, @Ancient Aussie! Wonderful examples, Sevvy and Eduard! What a great type of coin. Nero had good taste in coin design (or coin designers). Nero struck in Rome, CE 63 Orichalcum sestertius, 34 mm, 26.7 gm Obv: NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP PP; laureate head right, wearing aegis Rev: ANNONA AVGVSTI CERES; Ceres, veiled and draped, seated left, holding corn ears and torch, her feet on stool, facing Annona standing right, holding cornucopia; between them, modius on garlanded altar; in background, stern of ship Ref: RIC 98. Cohen 24
Very nice, both OP's coin and many others. I have a crappy example of the Arch coin, but this is my nicest Nero - RIC 220. It's rated S in RIC, but I've only seen one other example online, and this is nicer: ATB, Aidan.
Nero has never really been on my want list, but I did pick up one of these sestertii for a specific reason. Can anyone tell why?
Of course! Pacman! And you have the Rare ANGRY Version of Packman And I JUST received my Half-As, thank you (Pac-Man with mouth wide open!) RI Augustus 27 BCE-14CE AE As or Semis Spain Celsa Mint 29mm 5.0g Laureate Augustus - Bull RPC271 Cut in ancient times to make change
That is a great coin. Congrats on such a fine pickup. Here are my coins of Nero. Nero RIC 68 Nero RIC 24 Nero Ric 34 Nero RIC 621 Claudius RIC 83
Is it because it is one of those damnation types where they disfigured his portrait due to unpopularity?
It was common practice to cut coins during periods where there was a lack of small change. In this case they cut the coin to make a Semis.