Emperors of Rome - A (Chronological) Portrait Gallery

[idesofmarch01]

For me, the iconic Claudius portrait is what I describe as the "weak chin" portrait.  While it's sometimes not considered as artistic as other Claudius portraits with a strong jawline, I suspect it's more true-to-life than his "this is what an emperor of Rome should look like" portraits.

CLAUDIUS 41 - 54 A.D.
AV Aureus (7.79 g.) Rome 44 - 45 A.D. RIC 25
Obv. TI CLAVD CAESAR AVG P M TR P IIII laureate head r. Rev. Battlemented wall IMPER RECEPT enclosing praetorian camp, Fides Praetorianorum left.  
Ex. Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection (Sotheby's, 10 November 1972, lot 35); published in "Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin" 1938
 

[DonnaML]

I really have nothing special in the way of Claudius I coins. Certainly nothing in silver. But here's the best of what I have: an Imperial as in relatively decent condition, and a couple of coins I like from Roman Alexandria:

Claudius I AE As, AD 42, Rome Mint. Obv. Bare head left, TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P / Rev. Libertas standing facing, head right, holding pileus in right hand, left hand extended, LIBERTAS AVGVSTA / S - C. RIC I 113, Sear RCV I 1860, BMCRE 202. 31.62 mm., 11.18 g. Purchased from Marc Breitsprecher.

Claudius I, billon [Sear]/AR [RPC] Tetradrachm, Year 2 [41/42 AD], Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, ΤΙ ΚΛΑVΔΙ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒΑ ΓΕΡΜΑΝΙ ΑVΤΟΚΡ around, LΒ [Year 2] under chin / Rev. Draped bust of Antonia [Claudius’s mother] right, ΑΝΤΩΝΙΑ upwards to left, ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ downwards to right. ); RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. I  5117 (1992); RPC I Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/5117; Emmett 73.2 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; Sear RCV I 1868 (ill.); Sear GIC 492 (ill.) [D. Sear, Greek Imperial Coins and their Values (1982)]; BMC 16 Alexandria 65 at p. 9 [Poole, Reginald Stuart, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 16, Alexandria (London, 1892)]; K & G 12.3 [Kampmann, Ursula & Ganschow, Thomas, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria  (2008)]; Milne 61-64 at p. 3 [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)]; Dattari (Savio) 114 [Savio, A. ed., Catalogo completo della collezione Dattari Numi Augg. Alexandrini (Trieste, 2007)]. 24 mm., 11.25 g.

Claudius I AE Diobol, Year 2 (AD 41/42), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, ΤΙ ΚΛΑV ΚΑΙ - CЄΒ[ΑϹ ΓЄΡΜA], star in right field / Rev. Hippopotamus standing to right, ΑVΤΟΚΡΑ above, LB (Year 2) in exergue. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. I  5124 (1992); RPC I Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/5124; Emmett 82.2; Milne 71-72 at p. 3; BMC 16 Alexandria 96 at p. 12; K&G 12.10 (ill. p. 50); Dattari (Savio) 162; SNG France 4, Alexandrie I 150-153 (ill. Pl. 11) [Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, France Vol. 4, Alexandrie I, Auguste-Trajan (Zurich 1998)]. 25 mm., 7.65 g. 12 h. Purchased from Roma Numismatics, Ltd., E-Sale 102, 3 Nov. 2022, Lot 681.

[CPK]

@DonnaML That hippo is a winner every time!

[LONGINUS]

Not portrait coins — I apologize — but here are 2 of my favorite Claudius era Judaean coins.

 

Ex: L. Alexander Wolfe, Jerusalem, Israel

 

 

Edited January 10, 2023 by LONGINUS

[CPK]

5 minutes ago, LONGINUS said:

Not portrait coins — I apologize — but here are 2 of my favorite Claudius era Judaean coins.

 

 

Technically, you did post a portrait...so I guess we will let you off this time. 😜

But seriously, nice coins! I believe you get the whole (dysfunctional) family in the combined inscriptions - Claudius, Agrippina Jr., Nero, and Britannicus? I own similar types but I need to get them photographed. I've found that the camera I generally use for coin photos does somewhat poorly with earthen patina - ends up being too harsh and grainy.

[Zarco]

Here are my two coins of Claudius.  Both photos are from the sellers.

Sestertius with Arcus Drusus Reverse

I've posted this one before.  This was my first ancient coin.  The choice was influenced by I, Claudius, both the BBC production and Robert Graves' novel, which I read after seeing a rerun of the miniseries back in the 80's.

Claudius, AD 41-54.
AE sestertius, 23.6 g, 34.9 mm, 5 h.
Rome mint, AD 41-50.
Obv: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP; Head of Claudius, laureate, right.
Rev: NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMAN IMP S C; Triumphal arch surmounted by an equestrian statue, right, between two trophies; rider holding spear in right hand.
Refs: RIC 98, Sear RCV 1851.
Acquired from Marc Breitsprecher, Classical Numismatist, 2 February 2018.
"This ornate structure probably represents the Arcus Drusus, erected over the Via Appia, just north of its junction with the Via Latina, to commemorate the military exploits in Germany of Claudius' father, Nero Claudius Drusus (died 9 BC)." Roman Coins and Their Values, Volume I, David R. Sear, No. 1851.

As with Libertas Reverse

@Limes and @Severus Alexander will recognize this coin.  I was really happy to get this one in AMCC 3.  I usually go for architectural or historical types, so I don't own many "someone standing or sitting there" types, but it's a nice example and I like the portrait.

Claudius, AD 41-54.
AE As, 12.1 g, 29.6 mm, 6 h.
Rome mint, AD 50-54.
Obv: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P; Head of Claudius, bare, left.
Rev: LIBERTAS AVGVSTA S C; Libertas standing, to front, holding pileus in right and extending left hand.
Refs: RIC 113, Sear RCV 1860.
Acquired from Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada, Auction 3, Lot 193, 24 July 2021.
From the Limes collection, acquired from Romancoinshop in 2017.

[CPK]

Here is another favorite Claudius portrait coin.

[ominus1]

..i have an Ae Diobol of Claudius l from Alexandria like @DonnaML's (altho not in as good as shape) 🙂

[Limes]

14 hours ago, Zarco said:

Here are my two coins of Claudius.  Both photos are from the sellers.

Sestertius with Arcus Drusus Reverse

I've posted this one before.  This was my first ancient coin.  The choice was influenced by I, Claudius, both the BBC production and Robert Graves' novel, which I read after seeing a rerun of the miniseries back in the 80's.

Claudius, AD 41-54.
AE sestertius, 23.6 g, 34.9 mm, 5 h.
Rome mint, AD 41-50.
Obv: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP; Head of Claudius, laureate, right.
Rev: NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMAN IMP S C; Triumphal arch surmounted by an equestrian statue, right, between two trophies; rider holding spear in right hand.
Refs: RIC 98, Sear RCV 1851.
Acquired from Marc Breitsprecher, Classical Numismatist, 2 February 2018.
"This ornate structure probably represents the Arcus Drusus, erected over the Via Appia, just north of its junction with the Via Latina, to commemorate the military exploits in Germany of Claudius' father, Nero Claudius Drusus (died 9 BC)." Roman Coins and Their Values, Volume I, David R. Sear, No. 1851.

As with Libertas Reverse

@Limes and @Severus Alexander will recognize this coin.  I was really happy to get this one in AMCC 3.  I usually go for architectural or historical types, so I don't own many "someone standing or sitting there" types, but it's a nice example and I like the portrait.

Claudius, AD 41-54.
AE As, 12.1 g, 29.6 mm, 6 h.
Rome mint, AD 50-54.
Obv: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P; Head of Claudius, bare, left.
Rev: LIBERTAS AVGVSTA S C; Libertas standing, to front, holding pileus in right and extending left hand.
Refs: RIC 113, Sear RCV 1860.
Acquired from Ancient & Medieval Coins Canada, Auction 3, Lot 193, 24 July 2021.
From the Limes collection, acquired from Romancoinshop in 2017.

Neat! I sometimes wonder where my sold coins went to. Thanks for sharing, and I hope you'll enjoy it for many more years to come!

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

Here's a Claudius from Attelaia in Pamphylia, it's formerly a museum piece and also a wildwinds plate coin.

Bust of Claudius left/Athena right wearing Corinthian helmet

 

 

 

Edited January 10, 2023 by Ancient Coin Hunter

[Finn235]

Missed the time frame for Caligula so I'll add both!

Caligula - I went with a rather "pedestrian" Vesta as in the nicest condition I could get without spending too much

An As for his grandfather, Agrippa - probably my favorite Julio-Claudian portrait on this one - a very early departure from the "idealized" style of the time.

A provincial bronze of his father and mother - Germanicus and Agrippina Sr (both posthumous)

A hideously beat up commemorative of Nero and Drusus, his older brothers (they only appear on this horseback issue in imperial coinage)

And a controversial SAL AVG issue from Carthago Nova - long touted as Caesonia, in a recent thread it was discussed that Caligula's titles don't add up, as this coin was minted years before their marriage... which possibly makes it the only *lifetime* Antonia in numismatics?!

And the crown jewel... an unambiguous and authentic Caesonia with their daughter Julia Drusilla

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And then Claudius

IMO the most artistically pleasing portraits of his in any medium other than marble are the cistophoric tetradrachms, so I splurged on this for about 1/3 of the price of a comparable denarius

And just for fun, a Claudius anti-portrait!

His family, placed on coins in a desperate bid to restore his public reputation as a stammering half-wit

His father, Nero Claudius Drusus

His mother Antonia

His brother Germanicus

And in provincial -

His very rare infamous second wife Messalina

And their son Britannicus (notice the family resemblance?)

Britannicus with his sisters Antonia and Octavia (hideous, ugly coin!)

His niece and second wife Agrippina II

And his adoptive son Nero as Caesar

Upon his death, Claudius was deified, but instead of being welcomed into the Imperial cults, he was a laughingstock, and was one of only two deified emperors whose consecration was ignored by the time of Trajan Decius

[CPK]

If Claudius had seemed a welcome respite from the predations of Caligula, the unfortunate inhabitants - or perhaps I should say aristocracy - of Rome were soon to find themselves in trouble again.

 

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus became emperor in A.D. 54 at the ripe old age of 16. He started out reasonably well, but quickly lapsed into self-centered extravagance, debauchery, and violence, with no real interest in actual political rule. He committed suicide in A.D. 68 after being declared a public enemy by the Senate, and with him died the Julio-Claudian line of succession.

Nero himself was an aspiring artist and under his rule, Roman coinage blossomed in artistic quality. Some of the most exquisite and interesting of Roman coins come from his reign. The portraits are unflinchingly realistic, developing a trend that had begun around the time of Caligula.

Let's see your portrait coins of this improbus but interesting Emperor!

[Octavius]

 Here are three different styles of portraiture of Nero; First the aureus depicting Nero as a boy -Princeps Iuventutis...

denarius of nero as a young man, and a denarius with a more mature , corpulent Nero.

[Octavius]

 An assortment of nice portraits of Nero...

[Octavius]

 Denarius of Nero with his mother (before their "disagreement").

another depiction of Nero as a boy - struck under Claudius- as Princeps Iuventutis.

[CPK]

@Octavius All lovely coins - Nero looks particularly wild in that DECVRSIO sestertius, third coin down! Whoever engraved that die had a flair for the dramatic. 👍

[Roman Collector]

Nero and wives ...

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.

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.

 

 

 

[kapphnwn]

Nero Ar Denarius 65-66 AD Obv Head right laureate Rv Facade ot the Temple of Vesta 3.45 grms 17 mm Photo by W. Hansen

After the great Fire Nero attempted to win back support with what would be call today an infrastructure program. It did not help and Nero had a bad end. One of the buildings rebuilt was the Temple of Vesta. This temple survived more or less intact until the sixteenth century when the marble was repurposed for other buildings. It was later partially restored during the reign of Benito Mussolini who also had a bad end.

[shanxi]

Nero. I love the Alexandrian portraits:

Nero
Alexandria
Billon-Tetradrachm
Obv.: NEΡΩ KΛAΥ KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEΡ AΥ LIΔ, radiate bust left wearing aegis; L IΔ below year 14 (67/68)
Rev.: HΡA AΡΓEIA, veiled bust of Hera Argeia right, wearing stephane, star in front
Billon, 12.21g, 23x23.5mm
Ref.: Milne 297, Curtis 126, RPC I 5315, BMC Alexandria 133, Geissen 200

 

[shanxi]

Nero's mother

Lydia. Hierocaesaraea
Agrippina Junior (Augusta, 50-59)
Bronze, AE 18
Obv.: AΓPIΠΠINAN ΘЄAN CЄBACTHN, draped bust right, hair in long plait down back of neck and looped at end
Rev: IЄPOKAICAPЄωN ЄΠI KAΠITωNOC, Artemis standing right, holding bow, stag standing right.
Æ, 18.1mm, 4.43g
Ref.: RPC I 2388, SNG von Aulock 2959

[shanxi]

Nero's wife Poppaea

Nero
Alexandria
Billon-Tetradrachm
Obv.: NEPΩ KΛAY KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP, Radiate bust right
Rev.: ΠOΠΠAIA ΣEBAΣTH, L IΓ=year 13 (66/67), Draped bust of Poppaea right
Billon, 12.28g, 24mm
Ref.: Geissen 168

[mc9]

1 Nero from Alexanderia, and 1 from Rome :

obv. :ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑ[V ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ] : radiate bust to right, wearing aegis

rev. :ΑΥ – ΤΟΚΡΑ : eagle with closed wings standing left, palm at shoulder; L IA ( A.D.64 – 65 ) to left, simpulum to right.

Billon-Tetradrachme , RPC I 5284 ; Alexandria , 12.52 gr.

 

obv. : NERO CAESAR AVG GERM IMP : laureate head right

rev. : Victory flying to left, holding round shield inscribed (SPQR) ; large S - C across field.

Ae. AS , Rome , 11,11 gr., RIC I 312

[Prieure de Sion]

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus

Dupondius of the Roman Imperial Period 62/68 AD; Material: AE Bronze; Diameter: 28mm; Weight: 12.50g; Mint: Lugdunum, Gaul (modern-day Lyons, France); Reference: RIC I (second edition) Nero 597; Obverse: Head of Nero, laureate, left; small globe at point of neck. The Inscription reads: IMP NERO CAESAR AVG P MAX TR P P P for Imperator Nero Caesar Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestas, Pater Patriae (Imperator Nero Caesar, Augustus, high priest, tribunician power, father of the country); Reverse: Securitas, bare to waist, seated right, on throne, resting head against right hand and holding short sceptre in left; in front, lighted and garlanded altar, on which leans lighted torch resting on a bucranium. The Inscription reads: SECVRITAS AVGVSTI S C for Securitas Augusti, Senatus Consultum (Safety of the Augustus, decree of the senate).

 

 

 

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus

Sestertius of the Roman Imperial Period 65 AD; Material: AE; Diameter: 35mm; Weight: 24.58g; Mint: Lugdunum; Reference: RIC I (second edition) Nero 390; Provenance: From the Rio Collection; Provenance: Ex Special Collection of Ancient Coins (Heritage Auction, Auction 61210, 16 May 2021), lot 99053; Provenance: Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 437 (6 February 2019), lot 402; Obverse: Head of Nero, laureate, right; small globe at point of neck. The Inscription reads: NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P for Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunicia Potestas, Imperator, Pater Patriae (Nero Claudius, Caesar, Augustus, victor over the Germans, high priest, tribunician power, Imperator, father of the country); Reverse: Ceres, right, veiled and draped, seated left, holding corn-ears and torch, facing Annona, draped, standing right, right hand resting on hip, left holding cornucopiae; in center, modius on garlanded altar right; behind, ship's stern. The Inscription reads: ANNONA AVGVSTI CERES S C for Annona Augusti Ceres, Senatus Consultum (The grain supply of venerable Ceres. Decree of the senate).

 

 

 

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus

Tetradrachm of the Roman Imperial Period 61/62 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 25mm; Weight: 14.72g; Mint: Antiochia ad Orontem, Syria Phoenice; Reference: Prieur 82 (66 ex); Provenance: cgb.fr Numismatique Paris; Obverse: Bust of Nero with aegis and laurel wreath to the right. Inscription: ΝΕΡΩΝΟΣ · ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ · ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ for Neronos Kaisaros Sebastou (Nero Caesar Augustus); Reverse: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt with open wings, palm branch to left. Inscription: H · IP for H (Eta, 😎 I (Iota, 10) + P (Rho, 100) means year 8 of the regnal year (61/62 AD) and year 110 of the caesarian era.

 

 

 

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus

Tetradrachm of the Roman Imperial Period 63-64 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 26mm; Weight: 14.60g; Mint: Antiochia ad Orontem, Syria; Reference: Prieur 89, RPC I 4189; Obverse: Laureate bust of emperor to right, wearing aegis. The Inscription reads: ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ for Neron Kaisaros Sebastos (Nero Caesar Augustus); Reverse: Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, wings spread, palm branch to right. The Inscription reads: ΕΤΟΥΣ ΒΙΡ Ι for year 112 of the caesarian era (BIP = Beta (2), Ipota (10), Rho (100) = 112) and reign year 10 (I = Iota = 10) = 63/64 AD.

 

 

 

 

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus for Divus Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus

Tetradrachm of the Roman Imperial Period 63/68 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 24.5mm; Weight: 14.72g; Mint: Antiochia ad Orontem, Syria; Reference: Prieur 48 (37 ex.), RPC I 4123 (11 specmien), McAlee 270/2; Provenance: Ex Karl H. Kluger Collection; Obverse: Laureate head of Nero, right, star behind head. The Inscription reads: NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GER for Nero Claudius Divus Claudius filius Caesar Augustus Germanicus; Reverse: Laureate head of Claudius, right. The Inscription reads: DIVOS CLAVD AVG GERMANIC PATER AVG for Divos Claudius Augustus Germanicus Pater Augustus.

 

 

Nero, with Poppaea Sabina

Drachm of the Roman Imperial Period 62/63 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 16mm; Weight: 3.70g; Mint: Antiochia ad Orontem, Syria; Reference: Prieur 88, RPC I 4187, McAlee 280; Provenance: Ex Classical Numismatic Group 112 (11 September 2019), Lot 427; Obverse: Laureate head of Nero right. The Inscription reads: ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙΣ[ΑΡ] ΣΕΒ ΑΣΤΟΣ for Neron Kaisaros Sebastos (Nero Caesar Augustus); Reverse: Draped bust of Poppaea right. The Inscription reads: ΠΟΠΠΑΙΑ ΝΕΡΩ[ΝΟ]Σ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟY for Poppaia Neronos Sebastou (Poppaea Nero Augusta).

 

 

Nero for Tiberius Claudius Caesar Germanicus Britannicus

Coin of the Roman Imperial Period 55/56 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 16/16.8mm; Weight: 3.51g; Mint: Pontus, Kings of Pontus; Reference: RPC I 3837; Obverse: Diademed head of Polemo. The Inscripton reads: ΒΑϹΙΛƐⲰⳞ ΠΟΛƐΜⲰΝΟⳞ for Basileos Polemonos; Reverse: Draped and laureate bust of Britannicus. The Inscription reads ΕΤΟΥⳞ ΙΗ for Year 18.

 

 

 

Nero, with Divus Claudius

Didrachm of the Roman Imperial Period 63/64 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 22.5mm; Weight: 6.79g; Mint: Caesarea Eusebia, Cappadocia; Reference: RPC I 3647; Specimens: 16 (13 in the core collections); Obverse: Head of Nero, laureate, right. The Inscription reads: NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMA for Nero Claudius Divi Claudii Filius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Nero Claudius, son of the divine Claudius, Caesar, Augustus, victor over the Germans); Reverse: Head of Claudius, laureate, right. The Inscription reads: DIVOS CLAVD AVGVST GERMANIC PATER AVG for Divos Claudius Augustus Germanicus Pater Augusti (Divine Claudius, Augustus, victor over the Germans, father of the emperor).

 

 

Nero, with Divus Claudius

Didrachm of the Roman Imperial Period 63/64 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 22mm; Weight: 7.58g; Mint: Caesarea Eusebia, Cappadocia; Reference: RPC I 3653, Sydenham 66; Obverse: Head of Nero, laureate, right. The Inscription reads: NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMA for Nero Claudius Divi Claudii Filius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Nero Claudius, son of the divine Claudius, Caesar, Augustus, victor over the Germans); Reverse: Head of Claudius, laureate, right. The Inscription reads: DIVOS CLAVD AVGVST GERMANIC PATER AVG for Divos Claudius Augustus Germanicus Pater Augusti (Divine Claudius, Augustus, victor over the Germans, father of the emperor).

 

 

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus

Hemidrachm of the Roman Imperial Period 59/60 AD; Material: Silver; Diameter: 14.40mm; Weight: 1.84g; Mint: Caesarea, Cappadocia; Reference: RPC I 3646, Sydenham 86, RIC I (second edition) Nero 618, Sydenham 83; Obverse: Head of Nero, laureate, right. The Inscription reads: NERO CLAVD DIVI [CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GE]RMANI for Nero Claudius Divi Claudii Filius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Nero Claudius, son of the divine Claudius, Caesar, Augustus, victor over the Germans); Reverse: Victory, naked to waist, standing right with right foot on globe, inscribing round shield resting on her right knee.

 

 

 

 

[John Conduitt]

Here's another Vesta, in worse condition...

Nero Denarius, 65
Rome. Silver, 2.78g. Laureate bust right; NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS. VESTA above dome hexastyle temple with statue of Vesta inside (RIC I, 62). Found Norfolk before 2001.

[ambr0zie]

Some Nero coins with decent portraits (but no match for many coins seen on this thread!)

1.56g 14mm Silver CAPPADOCIA, Caesaraea-Eusebia. Nero, 54-68. Hemidrachm 59-60.
Obv: (NERO CLAVD DIVI) CLAVD F CAESAR AVG (GERMANI), laureate head of Nero to right Rev: Victory seated right on globe, holding wreath in both hands.
BMC 409; RIC I Nero 617; RPC 3645

Nero AD 54-68. Rome. Denarius AR. 20 mm, 2,65 g

Struck circa AD 64-65 or 65-66. NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / [AVGVST]VS AVGVSTA, Nero, radiate and togate, standing left, holding patera in right hand and long scepter in right; to right, empress (Poppaea?), veiled and draped, standing left, holding patera in right hand and cornucopia in left. Note – some sources (Sear) indicate that the reverse characters are Augustus and Livia. RIC I 45 and 57; WCN 55; RSC 43; BMCRE 54-5; BN 201.

 

Nero AD 54-68. Rome
As Æ
RIC 351
Date Range: AD 62 - AD 68
IMP NERO CAESAR AVG GERM, head of Nero, laureate, right / S C, Victory, winged, draped, moving left, holding in both hands shield inscribed S P Q R
27 mm., 8,45 g