Rare Nero coin found

I know nothing about ancients; I'm just passing this along.

http://news.yahoo.com/old-money-rare-roman-nero-coin-unearthed-england-121010782.html

 

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The coin type itself is not rare and is probably one of the most common aurei of the emperor Nero. But to find it at a site like Vindolanda is very unusual. Most finds from sites like this are smaller denominations in bronze. Even finding a denarius would be cause for note.

Did anyone else cringe when the article use the word "embossed?" Embossing is a completely different manufacturing process.

 

Its well worn, so I am sure its deposition date is much later.

Btw, "image of the hated emperor"? Heck, there were "fake Nero's" throughtout the empire for years and years after his death. He was not hated at the time throughout the empire. He was probably hated by a couple of historians who wrote one sided histories of his rule, but not by the empire overall. I always hate how poorly written ancient coin stories are in the common press.

 

Then do something about it man. The people should be given accurate information without bias.

 

Do something like what? I am not a beat reporter for Yahoo, and every time I have tried to contact reporters about correct information they are not interested. I post here and try to help, but the general media really are not that interested in factual history. If any, their only exposure to history is what they picked up from Hollywood movies, like most Americans.

 

Sadly, This is true.

 

I thought that Peter Ustinov was excellent as Nero in "Quo Vadis".

 

I doubt that information like that is available anywhere on this earth.

 

• In all the world , it is known that Nero was a rude merciless emperor who persecuted and crucified thousands and thousands of innocent people. It is also thought that he contributed in the burning of Rome. I do not think that the matter of a hated Emperor like Nero deserves all that unjustified objection by Mr. Medoroman. Then I could never believe that the great American people pick up their information only from Hollywood, Sir..
• Charles

 

Granted, compared to what most US dealers call "rare", this aureus is almost unique

 

You would be surprised at the people I speak to who believe Hollywood's various versions of history, are, in fact, accurate. An older gentleman I know is a real history buff, especially about the American Civil War. When he and I talk about Civil War topics, another friend will chime in with what he saw in this movie or that and we must be wrong because the movie showed a different story. Sadly, I believe this second friend to be the norm. As another example, I went to a high school graduation party a couple of weeks ago. This particular graduate is a great kid, but he knows nothing about history, geography, civics, math, etc. He's not stupid, but he was never taught. It's a sad commentary on our educational system in the U.S.

Nero may have been a monster. It's hard to argue that point. But in my studies of the Roman emperors, he was far from the worst. He was a reluctant emperor at best. Take a look at the histories of Caligula, Domitian, and Caracalla to name just a few I believe to be worse than Nero (just my opinion).

 

Elagabalus was too

 

So if he never learned these things in High School how the heck did he Graduate?

 

Nero was tainted by historians who were personally affected by some purges ordered after assasination attempts. I am not saying Nero was a great guy, but if he was so universally hated why then were people claiming to be Nero or Nero's heir all over the empire for many years? Evidently the common people of the empire liked and respected Nero, it was only the elite in Rome itself that feared him.

So, even amongst Roman emperors he was no where near the worst. Gaius, Elagabulus, and many others were worst. Amongst the whole world Nero would not even be worthy of mention versus the monsters throughout history. I honestly believe if it were not for early Christian martyrs and a couple of historians with personal grudges Nero might have gone down as an average emperor at worst.

 

That is the question, isn't it?

 

how the heck did he Graduate?

Mrs. Robinson helped him with his homework.

 

I would like to think this may have been the case. But again, I believe it's our schools. What they choose to teach; how they choose to accept substandard work so students will not form an inferiority complex; and/or lower quality, mediocreteachers who cannot be fired due to tenure. It's a shame.

My nephew was a junior in high school when I was being stationed in Germany the last time. He asked why I didn't just drive to Germany. When I explained there was an ocean between, he said "just drive across the bridge". I gave up. He graduated the next year. Go figure!

 

Wow, that's terrible. I graduated last year in 2013. While the majority of my classmates were not so intelligent there still was a minority group of intellectuals labeled as "Nerds". I think another part of the education equation is the student. They decide whether or not they care about school and their grades. if they don't want to do anything except socialize in class they obviously won't be straight A students.

 

And then there are the parents. Where are they? Do they care? The students you speak of as intellectuals probably had involved parents.

Oh well, back to Nero. Here is one of mine just to keep this about coins.

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