Nicest Nero (What is your)

[Amarmur]

I saw this and I was awe struck on the level of detail this bronze Dupondius has. I bought it today for $50. I really didn't need another Nero but this totally was worth the price plus I enjoyed the Roma reverse. Post the nicest Nero in your collection. Denarii are nice but a quality bronze/brass is like gold

[expat]

Really nice for the price, well done. I only bought a Nero just to say I have one. The only criteria were his name visible and a recognisable portrait. I picked this up for 60 Euros

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Roman Emperor of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty 54-68 AD AE As, Lugdunum mint. 66 AD. IMP NERO CAESAR AVG P MAX TR P PP, bare head right, globe at point of bust / S-C to left and right of Victory flying left, holding shield inscribed SPQR. RIC 543; BMC 381; WCN 593; Cohen 302
28.5mm, 10.01gr

[DonnaML]

One of these two AE Asses. It's much easier to find nice Nero bronzes at reasonable prices than denarii.

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by DonnaML

[Qcumbor]

Good catch @Amarmur and at a very good price IMO !

Not my nicest, but I received the following a few days ago (seller's pics, I didn't have time to take new pics yet) :

 

 

Q

[Amarmur]

19 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

One of these two AE Asses. It's much easier to find nice Nero bronzes at reasonable prices than denarii.

Very nice! I meant bronzes are often overshadowed and seen as less valuable than denarii and silver coins in general. 

[Ancient Coin Hunter]

I only have one Nero coin. 

I have shown it before, but here it is again/.

Type: Tetradrachm (billon)

Alexandria, Egypt mint

25 mm, 12.5 grams

Obverse: Bust of Nero, radiate

Reverse: Serapis wearing Kalathos, a kind of holy basket

Some slight porosity, otherwise silvery

 

 

[AETHER]

 

Nice grab! Amazing price.

I just picked up this victory type, it's on the way...

[Amarmur]

11 minutes ago, AETHER said:

 

Nice grab! Amazing price.

I just picked up this victory type, it's on the way...

Gotta love those wings on victory

[LONGINUS]

 

Great post, @Amarmur!

 

Nero was a fascinating and notorious emperor and a truly iconic figure in history. For me at least one coin featuring his image was a must.

 

Here’s my entire Nero collection.

 

[CPK]

@Amarmur Nice coin at a fantastic price.

Here is my best (and only) Nero:

NERO, AD 54-68
AE Sestertius (34.80mm, 27.58g, 7h)
Struck AD 66. Rome mint
Obverse: IMP NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P P P, laureate head of Nero right
Reverse: PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT, Temple of Janus with latticed window and garlanded double doors; S C across fields
OCRE I 323, RCV 1958v
The doors to the Temple of Janus remained open so long as there was war anywhere in the Empire. This type commemorates one of the few times the doors were closed, at the conclusion of the negotiated peace with Armenia and shortly before the outbreak of the Jewish Revolt later in AD 66.

[Sulla80]

@Amarmur an impressive Nero for the price.  My favorite Nero is this one from Alexandria:

Notes: https://www.sullacoins.com/post/nero-periodonikes

[ambr0zie]

Although this coin is far from perfect, it is the best preserved Nero portrait I have.

[Roman Collector]

14 hours ago, Amarmur said:

I really didn't need another Nero ...

"We don't need another Nero ...

My nicest Nero is probably this provincial from Tralles.

[AncientJoe]

I don't have a Nero in silver but here's my best in bronze and gold:

NERO. 54-68, aureus. 64-68. NERO CAESAR Laureate head r. Rev: AVGVSTVS GERMANICVS Nero standing facing, dressed in toga and wearing radiant crown. He is holding a branch and a victoria on a globe. C. 44. RIC 46. Calico 402. 7.34g, St. 6h. High relief. Ex. Boscoreale Hoard 1895; Ex. H. P. Smith Esq Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, June 5 1905, lot 405; Ex. Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, December 6, 1907 lot 111; Ex. Dr Eugen Merzbacher Munchen, November 2, 1909, lot 1204; Ex. Dr Jacob Hirsch Auction 33, November 17, 1913, lot 1144; Ex. Robert Ball Nachf Auction 6, February 9, 1932, lot 1037; Ex UBS 72, 2007, lot no. 209

 

[KenDorney]

I've been at this since 1985 and was amazed to find I have only one, bought as a curiosity.  I guess I need to find something more!

Nero, 54 – 68 AD
Æ Sestertius, Rome Mint, 35mm, 14.83 grams
Obverse:  NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM TR P IMP P P, Laureate head of Nero right.
Reverse:  S C, Triumphal arch surmounted by statue of Nero in quadriga accompanied by Pax and Victory, two soldiers or torch bearers flanking quadriga, statue of Mars in side niche of each arch.

References:
RIC 143(?)

Cost:
$20

Provenance:
Georgi Hristov, Ireland, via Ebay, November 9th 2016.
 

[Amarmur]

6 hours ago, AncientJoe said:

I don't have a Nero in silver but here's my best in bronze and gold:

NERO. 54-68, aureus. 64-68. NERO CAESAR Laureate head r. Rev: AVGVSTVS GERMANICVS Nero standing facing, dressed in toga and wearing radiant crown. He is holding a branch and a victoria on a globe. C. 44. RIC 46. Calico 402. 7.34g, St. 6h. High relief. Ex. Boscoreale Hoard 1895; Ex. H. P. Smith Esq Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, June 5 1905, lot 405; Ex. Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, December 6, 1907 lot 111; Ex. Dr Eugen Merzbacher Munchen, November 2, 1909, lot 1204; Ex. Dr Jacob Hirsch Auction 33, November 17, 1913, lot 1144; Ex. Robert Ball Nachf Auction 6, February 9, 1932, lot 1037; Ex UBS 72, 2007, lot no. 209

 

That port of Ostia coin is incredible how much does that type typically go for?

[idesofmarch01]

Nero's coinage seems to encompass both history (as in AJ's Port of Ostia sestertius above, although the credit for this project should really go to Claudius!) and artistry, as can be seen in the many coins posted in this thread.

Possibly the two coins in my collection that exhibit the most artistry on both the obverse and reverse are these denarius and aureus:

The level of detail, especially on the reverses, to which the engravers were willing to go on such a small "canvas" is nothing short of amazing.

[ewomack]

My only Nero, hence my nicest.

Nero AR Hemidrachm of Caesaria, Cappadocia. c54-63 AD. NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMANI, laureate head right / Victory seated right on globe, writing on shield, SGI 616, RPC 3645. RIC 617. Sydenham 82.

[JayAg47]

I don't have anything different to add, but this is my best Nero.

[Octavius]

These are some of my favorite Neros in several denominations....

1. Dynastic issue under Claudius - aureus with Boscoreale toning...

2. Aureus of Nero as a boy, again under Claudius...

3. Aureus of the corpulent Nero that we've all come to love...

4. My favorite sestertius of Nero with DECVRSIO reverse... struck in Lugdunum (also my favorite)

5. Port of Ostia sestertius ( unfortunately I took this photo. This explains why all my photos are from the various dealers).

6. My favorite denarius...

7. Dupondius with Victory holding wreath...

7. Nice looking As with Victory holding globe inscribed SPQR...

8 . Dupondius with mesmerizing portrait and SECVRITAS reverse,....

9. One more sestertius from mint of Rome with Nero addressing troops. Standing next to him is Praetorian prefect - likely Tigellinus...

[Qcumbor]

It's of course very far from the beauties shown by @AncientJoe, @idesofmarch01, @Octavius and some others, but I commited a reshot of the middle bronze I posted above. Not the perfect light late afternoon, but slightly better than the seller's pic I think

Q

[Salomons Cat]

Beautiful Neros!!
This motivates me to post my Nero tetradrachm, once again 🙂
I also have a Nero denarius, but the tetradrachm is my favorite due to the style of the portrait.
These are all of the Neros that I have.

Nero (AD 54-68). Tetradrachm (14.97 g - 25 mm). Seleucis & Piera, Antioch. AD 65/6.
Obv: ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙϹΑΡ ϹΕΒΑϹΤΟϹ. Laureate bust left, wearing aegis.
Rev: ΕΤΟΥϹ ΔΙΡ. Eagle standing left on club, with wings spread; palm-branch to left.
RPC I 4191; McAlee 266; Prieur 91. Ex Naumann

Nero (AD 54-68). AR Denarius (19mm - 2.92 g, 6h), Rome mint. Struck circa AD 64-65.
Obv: Laureate head right
Rev: Jupiter seated left on throne, holding thunderbolt and scepter.
RIC I 53; RSC 119. Ex CNG

 

Edited November 22, 2023 by Salomons Cat

[Prieure de Sion]

Bronzes usually show the portrait of Nero most beautifully - but several have already been shown here. I once had a beautiful silver drachm from Caesarea, Cappadocia. Their quality is often not perfectly clean. But I had this coin here - very rare to get such a cleanly centred coin - and then struck almost flawlessly. 
 
I sold the Nero last year. But, what a coincidence, now at the upcoming Leu auction in December, the former buyer is selling the Nero again:

https://leunumismatik.com/en/lot/46/230

 

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.

 

[Prieure de Sion]

And I also like this one - even if it is "only" a silver-plated didrachma. But it is in great condition. I like the fact that the portrait of Nero is so expressive - but so is the grim portrait of Claudius. And that both portraits are so well preserved, which doesn't happen very often.

https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/465138

 

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus; Reign: Nero; Mint: Caesarea, Cappadocia; Date: 63/64 AD; Nominal: Didrachm; Material: Silver Subaerat; Diameter: 21mm; Weight: 6.05g; Reference: BMC 416; Reference: RIC 619; Reference: Sydenham 66; Reference: RPC I 3653 (#11 this one); Provenance: Gorny & Mosch Numismatik Munich, Germany (Auktion 274, Lot 2716, 20. November 2020); Obverse: Laureate head of Nero, right; Inscription: NERO CLAVD DI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMA; Translation: Nero Claudius Divi Claudii Filius Caesar Augustus Germanicus; Translation: Nero Claudius, son of the divine Claudius, Caesar, Augustus, victor over the Germans; Reverse: Laureate head of Claudius, right; Inscription: DIVOS CLAVD AVGVST GERMANIC PATER AVG; Translation: Divos Claudius Augustus Germanicus Pater Augusti; Translation: Divine Claudius, Augustus, victor over the Germans, father of the emperor. 
 

[kapphnwn]

Nero Ae Sestertius Rome 65 AD Obv head right laureate. Rv Roma seated left holding Victory in outstretched right hand. RIC 273 27/46 grms 34 mm Photo by W. Hansen

These coins were struck to help defray the cost of rebuilding Rome after the great fire of 64 AD. It is likely at this point Nero is beginning to see that he is very unpopular and is trying to burnish up his image with this image coupled with a magnificent image of the goddess Roma