Even with the spade scratch, I liked the portrait and overall look of this little hemi drachm CAPPADOCIA, Caesarea-Eusebia. Nero. AD 54-68. AR Hemidrachm (15mm, 1.71 g, 1h). Struck circa AD 56-58. Laureate head right / Victory seated left on globe, holding wreath. Sydenham, Caesarea82; RPC I 3645; RIC I 617.
I have a few coins of Nero. What I really like is searching for the pre-reform denarii of Nero. Many of these denarii were driven out of circulation because the denarii before 64 CE were of greater fineness than the denarii after the reform. According to Gresham's law, bad money drives out the good. People hoarded the better quality denarii and spent the poorer quality coins. Many of these were melted down and because of the decrease in fineness after 64 CE it was worth it to do so. When you could get 5 denarii instead of 4 out of the same amount of silver why wouldn't you? The following 2 coins are pre-reform denarii of Nero. Notice the youthful depictions of Nero. This is before his "fat tyrant" days. These are rare coins. This coin also has youthful portrait of Nero. It is on a rare denarius of Claudius. Here is a post reform denarius for Nero minted very near his end in 68 CE. I love this one because of the reverse, though the "fat tyrant" portrait shows Nero as many know him.
i have always been impressed by the differences in these two Nero dupondii. Laureate bust left with Lugdunum ball on bust point, green patina covers brass (orichalcum)color, no denomination mark Radiate bust right without ball (Rome mint), no patina revealing yellow color, II denomination mark on reverse
I think Roman imperial coins reached their zenith under Nero. I read once that he was a coin collector as well. Here are some examples of my favorites.