...on June 9, 68 a.D., Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus called out his famous last words: "qualis artifex pereo". For this occasion, bring out you favorite coin of Nero! Here is mine: NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P, laureate head of Nero right. PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT, view of the ‘Twin Janus’ (ianus geminus) in the Roman Forum, showing closed double doors and one side wall (to the left) with latticed window running along its entire length about halfway up, S — C across field. Sestertius, Rome AD 65 32,32 mm / 22,85 gr RIC — (cf. 171 in original edition); BMCRE 158; CBN 371 and pl. LI; Cohen 146; Mac Dowall (“The Western Coinages of Nero”, ANS NNM 161) 148; Cayón (Los Sestercios del Imperio Romano) 165; cf. Sear (Roman Coins & Their Values I) 1958 — for a similar issue from the Lugdunum mint.
RIP, Nero. I believe much of his negative "publicity" was a bad rap. Favorite provincial: 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?; Milne -; none in a few other minor references I own. Rare. ex Dattari collection (Giovanni Dattari, 1858-1923) https://www.cointalk.com/threads/more-to-this-than-meets-the-eye.309276/ Favorite imperial: Nero struck in Rome, CE 63 Orichalcum sestertius, 34 mm, 26.7 gm Obv: NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP PP; laureate head right, wearing aegis Rev: ANNONA AVGVSTI CERES; Ceres, veiled and draped, seated left, holding corn ears and torch, her feet on stool, facing Annona standing right, holding cornucopia; between them, modius on garlanded altar; in background, stern of ship Ref: RIC 98. Cohen 24
Oh goodie. We get to see that oinochoe again! Sure caused a lot of speculation @TIF - I still like to think it was some sort of ancient water pipe, but apparently not.
NERO AR Drachm OBVERSE: NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERM, laureate head of Nero right. REVERSE: DIVOS CLAVD AVGVST GERMANIC PATER AVG, Claudius' laureate head right Struck at Caesarea, Cappodocia, 63/4AD 3.6g, 17mm RIC 621, RSC 3, RPC 3648
Very nice coin @Julius Germanicus I have a few coins of Nero. It is too difficult to choose my favourite. Claudius, with Nero as Caesar. 41-54 AD. AR Denarius. Struck 50-54 AD. (17.68 mm, 2.78 g, 6h) Obv:TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM P M TRIB POT P PLaureate head of Claudius right Rev:NERO CLAVD CAES DRVSVS GERM PRINC IVVENTDraped bust of Nero Left RIC I 83 (R2) ; RSC 5. SRCV I (2000) 1890 RSC 5 Ex: CNG e-auctions356, Lot: 469.Closing Jul 29, 2015 Ex: Holding History Coins Agora Auctions Lot 07-158 April 21, 2016 Nero and Divo Claudius, AD 54-69. AR drachm, 19mm, 3.5g, 6h; Caesarea Cappadocia mint. Obv.: NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERM; Laureate head of Nero. Rev.: DIVOS CLAVD AVGVST GERMANIC PATER AVG; Laureate head of Claudius right. Reference: RIC 621From the Mat Collection. Nero. AD 54-68. AR Denarius Rome mint. Struck AD 68. (17.68 mm, 3.37 g) Obv: IMP NERO CAESAR AVG P P, Laureate head right Rev: Legionary eagle between two standards. RIC I 68 (R2); RSC 356. SRCV (2000) 1947 Ex: CNG e-auction 370 lot 391 March 9, 2016. NERO (54-68). Denarius. Rome. Struck 60-61 (18 mm 3.14 g.) Obv: NERO CAESAR AVG IMP. Bare head right. Rev: PONTIF MAX TR P VII COS IIII P P / EX - S C. Ceres standing left, holding grain ears and torch. RIC² 24 (R3) Condition: Near very fine.. Ex: Numismatik Naumann Auction 63 Lot 848 March 4, 2018. Nero. A.D. 61. AR denarius (18.40 mm, 3.37 g, 7 h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Obv: NERO CAESAR AVG IMP, bare head right Rev: PONTIF MAX TR P VIII COS IIII P P, EX S C across field, Roma standing right, holding and inscribing shield supported on knee, foot on helmet; dagger and bow at feet to right. RIC 34 (R3); RSC 231. aVF, toned. Rare. From the D. Thomas Collection; Ex Hohn Leipziger Munzhandlung. Auction 85 June 2-4 2016 Lot 1832 Ex: Agora Auctons sale 68 Lot 195 August 15 2017.
I just have to say, that's a superb portrait of Nero -- maybe a bit idealized, but highly artistic nonetheless.
I have some Alexandrian Tetradrachms to contribute: Year 3: Married to Claudia Octavia Year 11: Married to Poppaea Sabina. You can read about these two wives here.
..i can't help but to think that too... when your enemies and rivals write your history.... Nero/ Winged Victory SPQR shield copper As
My only Nero, obliterated by Galba (recently posted, but what the heck, I only have one!): Nero / Galba Æ As (63 A.D.; c/m 69 A.D.) NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERMANICVS, laureate head right / [GENIO AVGVSTI], Genius, naked to waist, standing half-left, holding cornucopiae, [altar left]. RIC 125 Countermark: ΓAΛBΛ (GALBA in Greek) Howgego GIC 526 (9.77 grams / 27 mm)
I'm biased towards liking Nero and believing the version presented in the historical fiction novel by Margaret George, The Confessions of Young Nero. @IdesOfMarch01 brought the newly released book to our attention more than a year ago and I promised to read it and give a report. Read it I did, soon after that post. Report I did not . I am constantly reading, mostly fiction, and a hundred books later the details of the Nero novel have mostly evaporated so I will sum up my thoughts on the book with two words: loved it!
NERO CAESAR AVG IMP Bare head of Nero right TR P III P P PONTIF MAX EX SC Legend around oak-wreath enclosing "EX. S C. Lugdunum, 60-61 AD 3.71g Sear 1936, RIC 22, BMCRE 24, RSC 216 Rare! Ex-Alberta Coins Nero Billon Tetradrachm 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 Ex-ANE Nero Billon tetradrachm, 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 Ex-Zurgieh This type is from a series of tetradrachms depicting and naming a variety of Greek deities; issued to commemorate Nero's sojourn in Greece in 67 - 68 A.D. Nero and Divus Claudius Hemidrachm NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMANI Laureate head of youthful Nero right ARME NIAC Victory advancing right, wreath upward in right hand, palm in left over shoulder Cappadocia-Caesarea c.59-60 AD 1.77g Group III, Cappadocia-Caesarea - RIC I, 616; BMC 406 (rare), RPC 3644 Rare This is the Wildwinds specimen. Some encrustations removed from Nero's head and nose and in front of Victory Issue celebrating Corbulo's Armenian conquest
I am not so sure that I share the sentiment that he was a nice guy... He DID kick his pregnant wife to death... RI Poppea-Nero BI tetradrachm of Alexandria LI yr10 63-64 CE Milne 217 RPC 5275
Just got this one yesterday and posted it yesterday. But why not again in this thread? It’s new and I’m excited about it. A tetradrachm of Antioch, Seleucis, and Pieria. When I think about how the eastern Christians and Jews would have conceived of this enemy of their religions, I suspect this more svelte and severe figure is what they would have imagined due to these coins, rather than the more corpulent, gluttonous figure of Roman imperial coinage.
I certainly echo...echo...echo...the sentiment that there is a lot of half truths, hyperbole and flat out lies in regards to how history would have us remember Nero. Did he have his own mom killed? Probably. But was that such a bad thing when we look at her track record and history? I don't think so. She was as domineering a megalomaniac as any of our favorites. Did he light up Rome like snoop dogg lights up spliffs? Probably not. In all my readings I do believe it WAS the Christians. And that he did his best to have his people contain the blaze...though may have taken advantage of the bad circumstance. The Christians had a history of using pyrotechnics as revenge and continued to do so long into the future. Just ask Diocletian. Did he kick his pregnant wife to death? My understanding is that this story was perpetuated by a detractors of his long after his demise. Don't get me wrong. Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story. Let's just do our best to know which might be which.