Charles Meynier, 1798, Apollo & Urania, Cleveland Museum of Art, Creative Commons 1.0 License In AD 67, Nero went on a grand tour of Greece, chafing the norms of decorum with his participation in games, including music (kithara or lyre) and chariot events, and his theatrical (perhaps fraudulent is a better word) garnering of awards: "Nero stayed in Greece for more than a year participating in all the major and minor festivals. He took part in the Actian games at Nicopolis which had been established by Augustus to celebrate his victory at Actium over Mark Anthony. In addition, he entered himself as competitor in many events and won the title "Periodonikes" victor [circuit-victor], in all four major Games [Olympia, Delphi, Nemea and the Isthmus]. He loved and practiced wrestling all the time and everywhere in Greece he watched the athletic competitions like the officials of the games. He not only won at competitions in which he took part, but even in those in which he did not. The name of Olympian victor rang as gloriously in his ear as any title of Roman imperial distinction. He gained about 1,800 prizes in various festivals." - Mouratidis, Nero: The Artist, the Athlete and His Downfall, p.18 This coin commemorates the Nemean Games of August 66 or 67 AD, the athletic and musical competition held every 4 years in the grove of Zeus Nemeios in the city of Argos. Nero is said to have competed in these games. The winners of the Nemean games were crowned with celery leaves as Zeus is crowned on this coin. Laurel leaves were used at other games. Egypt, Alexandria, Nero, AD 54-68, BI tetradrachm, dated year 14=A.D. 67/8, scarce type Obv: NEPΩ KΛAV KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP AV, L IΔ (date), radiate head left, wearing aegis Rev: NEMEIOΣ ZEVΣ, head of Zeus Nemeios right, crowned with celery leaves Ref: Milne 279; Emmett 136; RPC 5308 Note: much more information in "Nero, Periodonikes" As Periodonikes, winner of the grand-slam of Greek athletics, Nero celebrated in Rome in a chariot of white horses, surrounded by victory wreaths, the same chariot used by Augustus in triumph. This surely didn't add to the Roman elite's disdain for Greek athletics or Nero, even if there might have been some popular enjoyment of the spectacle. Comments, coins, corrections, and additional references are always appreciated. Share your coins connected to Greek and Roman games or anything else that you find interesting or entertaining.
Nice Tet, @Sulla80 , and great writeup. Thank you! General VESPASIANUS fell asleep at a Nero event... look where THAT got him! RI Vespasian 69-79 CE AE Dupondius Felicitas stdg caduceus cornucopia sinister left
This tetradrachm of Nero from Alexandria was one of my first ancient coin purchases: 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. This type is less commonly encountered: 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.
Very cool coin commemorating grown men wearing celery leaves on their heads! Here is a recent win that listed as unique, but I found a few variations, though, none both facing left. Wait, is that a Macedonian shield? Hint: Yes. Yes it is Macedon. Koinon of Macedon. Beroea mint. Nero AD 54-68. Bronze Æ, 30 mm, 15,68 g Obv: Nero facing left. ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ Rev: Mars standing, l., holding wreath and spear; to r., Macedonian shield. ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΩΝ Axis: 1, 12 Reference: AMNG 240–1, BMC 147. RIC I, 1613 nearly very fine 11 known specimens Savoca listed as Unpublished variety. Purchased Savoca March 2021
NERO Tets 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 billon tetradrachm Alexandria Egypt, LI ry.10 63-64AD obv. Radiate head of Nero right rev. Draped bust of Poppea right, LI before 23mm, 12.8g Milne 217, RPC 5275
Many nice Neros in the thread, @Andres2 I am adding a Thessalien Nero with Lyre to my want list. @Alegandron, I guess falling asleep in a Nero performance gets you well enough rested to create a new dynasty? Here's a coin with a prize crown on the reverse from the Worldwide games of Commodus. Cilicia Pedias, Tarsus, Commodus, 177-192 AD, Æ 27mm (12.64, 7h) Obv: [ΑVΤ ΚΑΙ(Ϲ) ΑVΡ ΚΟΜΟΔΟϹ ϹƐΒ] Mantled bust right, wearing demiourgic crown; club of Hercules in left field Rev: ΑΔΡ ΚΟΜ ΤΑΡ ΜΗ Β ΝƐⲰΚΟ (twice Neokorie), agonistic crown inscribed ΚΟΜΟΔƐ (Kommodeios); above, ΟΙΚΟ/VΜƐ (worldwide). Expanded Legend: HADRianeia, KOMmodeios - TARsos MEtropolis Ref: RPC IV.3 5845 (temporary) Notes: Tarsus was the first city in Cilicia to receive the title Neokoros and a temple dedicated to the cult of Hadrian, during the reign of Hadrian circa AD 130. A second temple was dedicated to Commodus during his reign, before August 191. The Kommodeios Isolympic Worldwide Festival was held in honor of this temple. Commodus, as reincarnated Hercules, probably honored Tarsos because its city god was Hercules.[*] More on games here.
A few Neros. I'm afraid none has anything to do with his competitive musical and athletic endeavors: IVPPITER CVSTOS: SALVS: Temple of Janus: Nero & Alexandria: This C. Marcius Censorinus denarius with a desultor on the reverse has nothing to do with Nero, but does memorialize the Ludi Apollinares: For music, here's a Gordian III with Apollo and a lyre on the reverse:
its good to be the king/emperor ..i lost out on one of those and had to buy these 2 to make up for it...and imma gonna get one too, someday.. Nero Flying Victory As, Antiochus ll Theos, Athena, lyre
Wow, what a great coin! I wasn't even aware of the existence of this tet. Here's my most relevant Nero, which I bought for related reasons: AE As, Apollo/Nero w/ kithara or lyre
More like x5... 1 for mine and 4 for @octavius's! I do love mine though, a sleeper in a CNG auction last year. Mine is an RIC 210, issued in 64 (the year of the Great Fire), and Octavius's is an RIC 122, issued in 63. His is one of the few orichalcum Asses. (I see the auction house, Hess Divo, misidentified it as RIC 210.)
