New Nero tetradrachm from Alexandria

My first new addition of 2020 recently arrived, this tetradrachm of Nero from Alexandria that I won at the last Leu auction. This makes a nice start to the year...I've really been enjoying billon Roman provincial tets, and I suspect I'll be adding a lot more of these this year.


Nero, Alexandria, Billon Tetradrachm, (24 mm, 13.08g), 64-65 AD (RY 11.), ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑY ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ Radiate bust of Nero to right, wearing aegis./ Rev. ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑ - L ΙA Eagle, wings closed, standing left with palm frond behind; in field to right, simpulum. Dattari 270. RPC I 5284.

I really like this portrait of Nero. He looks regal and important, yet also like a sloppy, out of shape twenty-something (which sums him up pretty well). I also like that his name (ΝΕΡΩ) is very clear on the legend, which isn't always the case on these types. I also enjoy that this coin was likely struck within a few months after the Great Fire of Rome, which is an important part of Nero's enduring mythology (even though the infamous "fiddling" story is almost certainly not true).

I still don't have an imperial issue of Nero (waiting for the "right" one), but I'm quite happy with this one...it's a nice heavy piece in hand and definitely much more reasonably priced than his Imperial silver coins. I think that this one makes a nice pair with my other Nero tet, which is left-facing.



I know that these types are pretty popular, so please post your Nero tetradrachms (or any other coins of Nero that you'd like to share)!

 

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Great Nero tetradrachm, @Shea19 ! For me, Nero is definitely one of the most fascinating Roman Emperors.

 

Antioch, Syria
Nero Regnal year 8, Caesarian year 110, (AD 61/62)
AR Tetradrachm 25 mm x 14.05 grams
Obverse: NERWNOS KAISAROS SEBASTOU, Laureate bust right, wearing aegis.
Reverse: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, palm branch before, H/IP behind.
Ref: RPC4182
Ex: @Ancientnoob

 

I love these Nero Alexandrian tetradrachms! Nice additions. Here are a few of mine


NEPΩ KΛAV KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP AV
Radiate bust left, wearing aegis. Date LIΔ.

ΠYΘEIOΣ AΠOΛΛΩN.
Laureate bust of Apollo Aktios right, quiver over shoulder; star before.

Alexandria mint, Year 14= 67-68 AD

12.18g

RPC 5318, Köln 195; Dattari 207; Milne 300; Emmett 111



NEΡΩ KΛAΥ KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEΡ AΥ
radiate bust left with aegis LIΔ year

ΠOΣEIΔΩN IΣΘMIOΣ
bust of Poseidon right, wearing taenia, trident behind shoulder

14.21g
Alexandria mint, 29 Aug 67 - 9 Jun 68 A.D

Dattari 244; Milne 298; Curtis 152, Sear 2014

And a latin inscription drachm


NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMA
Laureate head of Nero right

DIVOS CLAVD AVGVST GERMANIC PATER AVG
Laureate head of Divus Claudius right.

Caesarea, Cappadocia

63-64 AD

2.95g

RPC I 3648; RIC 622.

From the collection of K.M. Germany. Ex-Roma E-sale 43 lot 334

Nicely centered drachm with double portraits of Claudius and Nero and full Latin legends.

 

Nero has a better variety of Alexandrian tets than other emperors until Pius set a new standard. Very popular are his dynastic issues.
This is Tiberius.

 

Of which I still have none! I keep looking but other things get in the way.

Nero's Egyptian coins, particular his later tets, have a distinctly Ramen Noodle style.


Here's a particularly noodley example, 10/10 on the Ramen Scale:


EGYPT, Alexandria. Nero
year 13, CE 66/7
tetradrachm
Obv: NEPΩKΛAYKAIΣΣEBΓEP; radiate head right
Rev: Laureate bust of Apollo right; AYTOKPA; LIΓ
Ref: Emmett 110(13) R1, Milne 248


Somewhat less noodley, perhaps 6/10 on on the Ramen Scale:


EGYPT, Alexandria. Nero
year 10, CE 63/4
tetradrachm
Obv: NEPΩKΛAYKAIΣΣEBΓEPAY; radiate head right
Rev: Bust of Poppaea right; ΠOΠΠAIAΣEBAΣTH; LI
Ref: Emmett 128(10) R1, Milne 217

Condition makes it hard to determine, but I'd rate this one as LN, Least Noodley, 1/10 on the Ramen Scale:


EGYPT, Alexandria. Nero
year 3, CE 56/7
tetradrachm
Obv: NEPKΛAYKAIΣΣEBΓEPAYTO; laureate head right
Rev: Demos of Romans standing right with sceptre and cornucopia; ΔHMOΣPΩ-MAIΩN; LΓ
Ref: Emmett 116(3) R3, Milne 141

A diobol:


EGYPT, Alexandria. Nero
Regnal year 14 (CE 67/8)
AE diobol; 27 mm, 10.9 gm
Obv: NEPΩKΛAVK[AIΣΣEBΓEPA]; laureate head right
Rev: L - IΔ; "vase" (Emmett), or "oinochoe" per others (others are probably correct)
Ref: Dattari-Savio Pl. 1, 2 (this coin); Dattari cf 286; RPC 5322; Emmett 153.14; Poole (BM, 1892) cf 188?
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/more-to-this-than-meets-the-eye.309276/

 

When someone wants to start into Nero Imperials, the easy ones are asses. Silver and sestertii are expensive but the smaller AE are not as bad. Probably most common is the Victory reverse.


The one I like best is the Temple of Janus honoring Rome being at peace everywhere. The peace was broken soon after by the Jewish War that ended up bringing Vespasian to a position to take over the Empire. There are several varieties but this is a common one.

 

I really like Nero's tets from Alexandria and that's a super example.

It's likely the same die engravers were still around a few years later when Vespasian was calling the shots.

Vespasian
AR Tetradrachm, 12.65g
Alexandria mint, 69 AD
Obv: AYT TIT ΦΛAYI OYEΣΠAΣIAN KAIΣ ; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r., date LA before neck
Rev: EI-PH-NH; Eirene standing, l., with corn-ears and caduceus
RPC 2401 (25 spec.).
Acquired from Almanumis, August 2014.

 

Nice one, @Shea19 ! What a way to start the new year!

Here are a couple of Alexandrian tets of Nero from my collection:


Nero and Claudia Octavia.
Roman provincial billon tetradrachm, 11.1 g, 25.0 mm.
Egypt, Alexandria, AD 56-57.
Obv: ΝΕΡ ΚΛΑΥ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ ΑΥΤΟ, laureate head of Nero, right.
Rev: ΟΚΤΑΟΥΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ, bare-headed and draped bust of Octavia, right; L Γ before.
Refs: RPC 5202; BMC 119; SGI 657; Cologne 122; Milne 133; Emmett 127.


Nero and Poppaea Sabina.
Roman provincial billon Tetradrachm; 23.1 mm, 11.55 g.
Egypt, Alexandria, AD 64/65.
Obv: ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑV ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ ΑV, radiate head of Nero, right.
Rev: ΠΟΠΠΑΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ, draped bust of Poppaea, right, LIA (year 11) before.
Refs: RCV 2002; SGI 664; RPC 5280; Köln 168; BMCG 124; Milne 223; Curtis 138; Cohen 315, 3; Emmett 128.

 

Hi All,

Did you know there are contemporary counterfeits of Nero's Alexandrian tetradrahms? See W.E. Metcalf, Two Alexandrian Hoards [Forgeries from Luxor & from the Reign of Marcus Aurelius], Revue Belge Numismatique, vol 122 (1976), pp 65-77, pls I-II.

Metcalf notes in this article [citing J.G. Milne] that contemporary forgeries of Alexandrian coins are rare and most counterfeits are of modern origin. However, the counterfeiter's hoard published by Metcalf was acquired by E.T. Newell at Luxor in March, 1908 and is now in the collection of the American Numismatic Society. Metcalf notes that "the 76 pieces still in the ANS may or may not represent the entire hoard, since Newell was in the habit of disposing of duplicates or damaged specimens." This coin may be one disposed of by Newell.

NERO (12 Oct 54 - 9 Jun 68 CE)
ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT Year 13 (52/53 CE)
TETRADRACHM

Size: 24.5 mm
Weight: 14.2 g
Axis: 0
Refs: EM-0113.13; Geissen-0189 var: Head left; DAT-Unlisted (see DAT-0185 for head left)​

OBV: Nero bust wearing aegis, radiate crown, facing right. Legend (retrograde starting lower right): NEPΩ KΛΛV - [KΛIΣ ΣEB ΓΕΡ]. Retrograde date: ΓIL. Dotted border.

REV: Tiberius head, laureate, facing right. Legend: TIBEPIO - ΣEB[AΣTOΣ]. Dotted border.

From COLOSSEUM COIN EXCHANGE, Inc. (NJ, USA): Auction 085 (22 Nov 1994)

 

NERO

Type: Billon Tetradrachm, 25mm 12.73 grams

Obverse: NERW KLAY KAIS SEB GER, Radiate crowned head facing right.

Reverse: AVTO-KRA, Draped bust of Egyptian god Serapis facing right, wearing Kalathos (basket) on head, date LI (year 10)

Reference: Milne 222, Koln 160, RPC 5274, BMCGr 156: Sear 2001.

 

Yes, and I'm thoroughly envious that you have one! I tried to nab one several years ago but...



....................................................................................................................

 

@TIF,

Well said! (I have felt your pain.)

- Broucheion

 

RI Poppea-Nero BI tetradrachm of Alexandria LI yr10 63-64 CE Milne 217 RPC 5275

 

Shea19, Congratulations on your recent score ! My 1st Nero Tet from Alexandria turned out to be an ancient counterfeit purchased many years ago, never the less, still valuable. It was identified by CT member Ocatarinetabellatchitchix.


Circa AD 66-67, 12.9 gm, 25 mm.

 

Hi Al,

Why ? That's a great find. Retrograde legends are nice.

- Broucheion

 

Broucheion, I wasn't disappointed the coin turned out to be an ancient fake just startled I guess . I posted a thread on this coin a long time ago that drew a lot of responses from CT members that turned out to be very helpful. The info below came from that thread.

 

If you ever tire of that one please consider me first before consigning it somewhere .

 

Great coins everyone!

@Deacon Ray and @Alegandron, love the portrait-style on those Antioch tets, I’m going to have to get one of those eventually.

@Jay GT4 , that Cappadocia drachm is fantastic. Interesting that Divus Claudius looks a whole lot like his nephew.

@TIF , those are great as usual...unfortunately mine barely registers on your Ramen scale.

@Roman Collector , some great portraits of some unlucky ladies.

@ancient coin hunter , very nice Serapis!

@Broucheion , very cool imitation, thanks for sharing

@David Atherton love that Vespasian!

 

Nice one Doug, his dynastic issues are very interesting, that’s a great example. I also have one with a Tiberius reverse. I’d say it scores about 4/10 on @TIF ’s Ramen scale.