It’s been a while since I started a thread on this forum. I’m planning on doing this more often. I bought quite a few coins lately. One of my latest purchases is this coin of Nero playing the lyre. For me it’s a dream coin. I was looking for one for quite a while, made a few bids, but not successful until know. What makes this type so special is the figure on the back. It's the god Apollo Citharoedus with cithara (lyre). Apollo is the god of music, fine arts, poetry and more. It's no coincidence that Apollo appears on the reverse of this coin. Nero was very fond of Apollo and liked to identify himself with this deity. He often performed with lyre for an uncritical audience that was sometimes forced to attend his performances. It is quite possible that the figure on the reverse of my coin is not Apollo, but Nero himself making music. However, we are not 100% sure about that because the coin itself does not mention anything about the figure. What also makes the coin very interesting is that this coin was already talked about in ancient history. Suetonius discussed the coin in his emperor's biographies. He wrote that after his so-called 'successful' musical performances in Greece, emperor Nero had placed several statues of him as a lyre player and that a coin of the emperor playing the lyre was minted. Finally, the rumour was that the fire in Rome, which reduced part of the city to ashes, had been started by Nero himself, because he wanted to make room for the golden palace (domus aurea) he wanted to build. The story goes that he played the lyre when Rome burned...... History was not on Nero's side, but the question remains whether that is fair! Nero, as Nero Ae. as, Lugdunum, AD 65. Obv. NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERMANICUS, bare head right. Rev. PONTIF MAX TR POT IMP PP S C, Nero as Apollo Citharoedus advancing playing lyre. 10.65 g, 2.9 cm
Cool coin! I don't have the same type, but here's Apollo lyre-ing away with a tambourine in hand (i know its not a tambourine but cmon it sure looks like it)
I'm glad somebody has been buying coins lately, because it sure hasn't been me! The recent hyper-price inflation has left me coinless and depressed
i do a lot more shopping than buying these days, but i hear ya......and that's one( or @Andres2 ) i'd like to have there @Marsman very kool!
That is a fantastic reverse type for Nero @Marsman , great coin! I can share this fairly common Gordian III with Apollo and his lyre: Gordian III, Antoninianus (22 mm, 4.61 g), Rome, circa 242. IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian to right. Rev. P M TR P V COS II P P Apollo seated left on throne, holding branch with his right hand and resting his left elbow on lyre. RIC 89.
Congrats!! That's a nice example with a great portrait. I actually had a worn example many years ago that I bought from a pick-bin (imagine that!) for only 10 CAD. I sold it for a tidy profit but years later came to regret that when I started looking for a replacement - the quintessential Nero coin, no? They don't come up all that often, and like you I tried and failed quite a few times, until this one landed in my lap: I was quite amazed to get it for only a hundred bucks. I guess the corrosion spots made other bidders pass over it, but when I looked at the enlarged image and saw the detail present, I was more than satisfied to pick it up for my collection. I'm happy to forgive it its flaws.
I am in the market for that coin. I want the portrait decent and the lyre sharp. Not an easy combination to find.
No Nero for me of course but I do have Apollo and his lyre Roman Imperatorial period AR denarius(3.92g, 20mm), P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus, moneyer, 42 B.C., Rome mint. Laureate bust of Apollo right; lyre behind / Diana Lucifera standing facing with bow and quiver over shoulder, holding lighted torch in each hand; P•CLODIVS M•F• across fields. Crawford 494/23; Sydenham 1117; Sear HCRI 184
