I never thought this day would arrive, but it has…

Beautiful coin….One in a million of one of 12.

 

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Congratulations! I can’t imagine a better custodian for that beauty!

 

Awesome coin!
I could only imagine what it's like to own Roman gold, only something the Senators or wealthy merchants would use back in Roman times. This one seems to be circulated a bit too, so I think it should have an interesting history to go with it. Think about how many goods or villas this coin was probably used for.

 

Congrats, LM! That coin has a ton of character and history to it, and Nero is a great choice!

 

Great addition, LM!
It is nice that "Nero" and "Caesar" are fully on the flan.

 

Beautiful coin! Not surprised you're stoked about it!

Someday I will join that club!

 

WHOA...DUDE!!! Maybe put this in Numis Forums.

 

Spectacular coin! Maybe one day my budget will afford an aureus, but now I am quite happy with denarii.

 

Nice coin Rob! That will make an excellent addition to your collection!

 

I read somewhere an early Denarius was 1 day pay for an average soldier.
If we go by current military pay for an enlisted soldier, at about $2,000 a month ($67 a day) and multiply by 12:1 denarius to aureus, we’re looking at about $800.

I think a reasonable comparison would be the buying power of a double eagle in the early 20th/late 19th century. Basically, somewhere around 2 weeks of pay for an enlisted soldier.
An eagle was sometimes said to be about one weeks pay for your average laborer back then.

but, it’s very complicated since there’s not a good 1:1 comparison of prices then and now.

 

Excellent, and first century Nero at that. I think his coins are the most attractive.

 

You look so cute in that picture

 

So glad for you our lord

 

The ratio was 25 to 1. One aureus was worth 25 denarii. 12 to 1 was the ratio of the value of gold to silver by weight, but the aureus weighed a lot more than the denarius.

 

That was my understanding of it also. An Aureus was worth roughly a month's pay or so.

 

Oops, thanks for the correction!

 

I am very happy for you, LordM. Your happiness is really evident, and it seems like the long wait was well worth it. That is a very pretty aureus of Nero himself.
A very good choice.

I was very fortunate to 'join the aureus club' back in 2004 or 2005, and only because of a very unexpected rebate from the german tax authorities. (That was the only time in my 38+ years as a german tax payer that that has happened...a very rare occurrence as you can see).

Anyway, these are the two aureii that I bought at auction. One for each one of my sons, Claudius and Domitianus

 

Welcome to the club and nice coin!


Roman Empire - Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161) - Aureus
Gold, 19.5 mm 7.26 gm

Obverse: Laureate head right - ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P IMP II
Reverse: Antoninus wearing toga, standing left, holding globe - TR POT XIX COS IIII
Struck: AD 155-156 at Rome, Catalog: RIC 256a
He's holding the globe because "Rome rules the world"

 

I've got to say, I'm really excited for the day I see the thread started by our incredibly lovable and philanthropic @lordmarcovan offering up this amazing Aureus for one of his monthly giveaways! I'm sorry to say, I probably won't grant my entry post to a YN for that one

J/K of course, Rob. Enjoy this beauty for the remainder of your days as the most deserving curator I know.