My goal for 2019 is a set of the "Adopted Emperors" in Sestertius (sestertii?).. After some research I realized that Nerva would be a difficult task on my budget. It became clear that if I waited long enough I could most probably get a very rough sestertius at some point over the year and attain my goal. But then I came across this dupondius.. at a third of the cost of the very roughest Nerva sestertius examples on VCoins and featuring (in my humble opinion) an excellent portrait I snapped it up.. I am extremely happy with this decision. I think that Nerva, while his reign was short, is of paramount importance to the history of Rome. His decision (whether out of political necessity or prescient thinking.... or both?) to adopt the "best man" as his successor set in motion a (near) century of incredible success for Rome. The more I thought of it the more I wanted a nice example of this Emperor. I am collecting the rest of the set in sestertii - so while my set is slightly altered I am completely at peace with that and VERY happy to own this coin. Also - although I do not really spend any time at all worrying about provenance this one had some interest. I hit the big "5-0" yesterday... and this one included a 50 year provenance... sold a mere 5 weeks after I was born: Ex Stacks auction ("James Dines collection"), March 7-8, 1969. Nerva (96-8 AD), brass dupondius, Rome mint, struck Jan. - Sep. 97 AD, 28mm, 11.08g Obverse: Radiate head of Nerva to right, legend: IMP NERVA CAES AVG PM TR P I COS III PP Reverse: Fortuna standing l., holding rudder and cornucopiae, legend: FORTVNA AVGVST / S C Reference: Coh 69, RIC II 84 Grading: AVF , brown and green patina, some roughness Please share your coins of Nerva... especially dupondius or sestertius - don't worry I won't be jealous ... I will admire!
Ah I'm glad you took my advice, you could call your collection "Brass Adopted emperors" and a great Dupondius Nerva at that. Nerva AE Dupondius. Rome AD 96. Clasped hands holding standard above prow. RIC 55. Nerva AE As 11.7gm, 97 AD Clasped hands.
Nice one, @Clavdivs , with an expressive portrait. I don't have any bronze coins of Nerva, just some denarii:
Good portrait on that dupondius , Clavdivs , congrats. another option are these brass coins from Antioch:
Very nice dupondius where both sides are great, @Clavdivs! How exciting! That's where I've been focusing, so I don't have an imperial coin of his, just Antiochene.
Nice @Clavdivs ! Looks great! I have only one Nerva, and I have shown this a few times: RI Nerva AE Dupondius 96-98 CE LIBERTAS PVBLICA -pileus Ex: @TIF
Here's my Nerva: Type: Billon Tetradrachm, 25mm, 12.7 grams, mint of Alexandria year 96-97 A.D. Obverse: Bust of Nerva facing right, KAIS SEB AVT NEPOVAS Reverse: Agathodaemon serpent coiled with head right, holding caduceus and grain ear within coils, wearing the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt. In exergue, LA. Reference: Milne 542, Dattari 638 This coin is listed as "rare".
That's a very nice coin – congratulations on getting it, and, more importantly, a belated happy birthday! I don't have any AE coins of Nerva "the Nose," only this humble denarius: Nerva, Roman Empire, denarius, 97 AD, Rome mint. Obv: IMP NERVA CAES AVG GERM PM TR P II, laureate head of Nerva right. Rev: IMP II COS IIII PP, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae. 18mm, 2.98g. Ref: RIC II, 40.
