Finally have a Nero!

[kirispupis]

Although I mostly focus on Greek coins, I'll occasionally pick up Romans and my general goal is to obtain one coin from each emperor in a sort of Pokémon craze. Because I focus mainly on affordable coins in this space, I'm missing quite a few. However, one emperor that has been at the top of my list has been Nero, primarily because we share the same birthday.

Because of that, I'd been planning to make a "big splash" by purchasing an extremely nice coin, but this one came up recently at auction and I rather liked it.

Nero 54-68 CE
Denarius Lugdunum 56-57 CE
AR 19.00mm, 3.67 g
Bare head r.
Rev. EX SC within wreath C 207
RIC 12

 

What drove me to this coin was that it was minted during the early part of Nero's reign, which was considered quite good. He's depicted young here, before he became the fat monster that made him infamous. I also like that his name is very prominent.

The funny thing is I wasn't even watching this coin at the auction, but I was targeting two rare Greek coins and two Koinon of Macedons. When I lost out on my top two targets but picked up the two others at minimum bid, I decided to aim for some "anti-snacks" and bid on three Roman coins with the aim of winning one to make the shipping worth it - only I wound up with all three (the others were Drusus son of Tiberius and Clodius Albinus).

So, even though it's nowhere near as impressive as many Nero coins, I'm very happy with my pickup and I can now cross off the top Roman target from my list.

Feel free to show your Nero examples!

[JAZ Numismatics]

What does the EX stand for? I've seen it on a few other early Nero types.

[ambr0zie]

16 minutes ago, JAZ Numismatics said:

What does the EX stand for? I've seen it on a few other early Nero types.

Latin abbreviation: Ex senatus consulto, by special decree of the Senate. On coins of the Roman Republic EX S C indicates a special mint issue authorized by the senate.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=ex s c

@kirispupis that is a stunning coin even for a Roman coins collector

Here are 2 silver provincial coins showing Nero still fit:

14 mm, 1,56 g. Cappadocia, Caesarea. Nero 54-68. AR hemidrachm. 59-60. [NERO CLAVD DIVI] CLAVD F CAESAR AVG [GERMANI], laureate head of Nero to right / Victory seated right on globe, holding wreath in both hands. BMC 409; RIC I Nero 617; RPC 3645.

In fact this coin is a propaganda for fitness, as the reverse clearly shows Victory using a medicinal ball for exercises (this makes me wonder if in fact your EX SC coin is not a propaganda for exercise, too!)

 

Another recent addition, even if not in the best shape, is a good milestone for me - an early reign Antioch tetradrachm showing Agrippina on reverse 

25 mm, 13,22 g.
Syria, Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch. Nero 54-68 AD. AR Tetradrachm. Struck 56-57 AD.
ΝΕΡΩ[ΝΟΣ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΥΙ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΣΕΒ], head of Nero with oak wreath, right / ΑΓΡΙΠΠΕΙΝΗΣ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗΣ, Γ (regnal date) above ΕΡ (civic date), draped bust of Agrippina II, right.
McAlee 253; RPC I 4175; Prieur 74.

[CPK]

That is a terrific specimen @kirispupis! Great to see you branching out into Roman coins. 😉

Here is my only Nero denarius, from the other end of his reign:

NERO, AD 54-68
AR Denarius (17.24mm, 3.47g, 7h)
Struck AD 68. Rome mint
Obverse: IMP NERO CAESAR AVG P P, laureate head of Nero right
Reverse: Legionary eagle between two standards
References: RIC I 68, RCV 1947
A scarce type. Lightly toned with an excellent portrait.
From the T. R. Hardaker Collection (1942-2019)
"This type, among the last coins struck by the very unmilitary Nero, would seem to be an attempt to curry favor with the Roman legions of the provinces, which were beginning to rebel against his capricious rule. It did not work." - Classical Numismatic Group (lot description)

 

[expat]

Congrats on your Nero acquisition @kirispupis. Nice young looking portrait and his name and titles visible. Great catch.

I got a cheap one just to know I have one. My only requirement was to have his name visible and a recognisable portrait. Toward the end of his reign

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

[JAZ Numismatics]

1 hour ago, ambr0zie said:

Latin abbreviation: Ex senatus consulto, by special decree of the Senate. On coins of the Roman Republic EX S C indicates a special mint issue authorized by the senate.

 

I knew what SC stood for, but I've only ever seen it combined with EX on a few early types of Nero. I guess EX is not an abbreviation, but simply the word "from" or "by." Curious that you never see it anywhere else.

[ambr0zie]

It seems that EX indicates a special decree, not the "simple" SC on bronze coinage. It is found on other rulers coinage too. 

[Ryro]

Way to go on the saweet new Nero!

Here's my latest:

Nero (AD 54-68). Æas (10.59 gm). Lugdunum, AD 67. IMP NERO CAESAR AVG P MAX TR PPP, bare head of Nero right, globe at point / S - C, Victory flying left holding in both hands shield inscribed SPQR. RIC 544. BMCRE 387.

[AETHER]

Nice coin, I like these Type II Nero's ..

"Type II
Coins minted between 54 and 58 CE fall into the second type of Neronian portraiture. Type II coins still display the helmet style of hair yet now depict a more mature teenager."

 

[ominus1]

very nice early denarius of Nero...a trophy indeed1 :)..i have two later denarii issues of Salus and Jupiter in my Nero section  

[Furryfrog02]

I have wanted a Nero As with a Victory reverse for a very long time but keep getting outbid.  I have only managed to acquire this As with Neptune on the reverse and an obverse legend that is listed as "very rare".

Nero
AE As
Moesia or Balkan mint (Perinthus, Thrace?)
Obverse: NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM, Laureate head right
Reverse: S-C, Neptune standing left, holding dolphin and trident. RPC I 1760; BMCRE 391 note, pl. 48, 11; WCN pg. 245, 1 var. (obverse legend); RIC: not listed but mentioned on pp. 186-187

This was the only example with my obverse legend that I was able to find:

https://www.vauctions.com/Event/ArchivedLotDetails?id=180503

[Roman Collector]

Welcome to the Nero club, @kirispupis! This was one of the first ancient coins I ever purchased -- from a brick-and-mortar store in the 80s. 

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.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Yay, very cool!

[Octavius]

Congrats on your great Nero denarius.  I'm Partial to his coins.

Here is my latest Nero - Sestertius with reverse of triumphant arc.

Country: NERO
Year: 64
State/Grade: VF+
Nominal: Sesterce
Weight (g): 23,64
Material: bronze
Catalog number: C.306 RIC.500 RIC.500 BMC/RE.333 WCN.452 BN/R.-

[rasiel]

I don't even own a Nero. Y'all's rich folk!

Rasiel

[Prieure de Sion]

13 hours ago, JAZ Numismatics said:

What does the EX stand for? I've seen it on a few other early Nero types.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=ex s c 

[Roman Collector]

15 hours ago, JAZ Numismatics said:

I knew what SC stood for, but I've only ever seen it combined with EX on a few early types of Nero. I guess EX is not an abbreviation, but simply the word "from" or "by." Curious that you never see it anywhere else.

It is on the first currus elephantorum type of Faustina the Elder, too (British Museum).
 

And abbreviated on the sestertius (my collection).

Edited April 26 by Roman Collector
Cite the British Museum

[Tejas]

Nice coin and a young portrait too, which is missing from my collection.

Below is my only Nero sestertius and my best denarius.

[kirispupis]

7 hours ago, Prieure de Sion said:

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=ex s c 

Here's a more in-depth discussion I found recently.

Sydenham, E. A. “THE COINAGE OF NERO. An Introductory Study.” The Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of the Royal Numismatic Society, vol. 16, 1916, pp. 13–36. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/42663722.

Per the article, the fact that nearly all early coinage from Nero bears this mark indicates he ceded control of minting to the Senate early during his reign.

[ewomack]

I also have an "exercise ball" Nero. I saw this in the case of a coin shop in Denver years ago.

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.

[Qcumbor]

Terrific examples so far all along this thread. I particularily like the OP for its portrait of young Nero.

Here's a young portrait of the rather nice dude he was then, before, well the rest of the story

Neron Cesar (25/02/50-13/10/54) - Hemiassarion de l'atelier de Thyateira (Lydie), 50-54 CE
NЄΡΩN KΛAY[ΔIOC] KAICAP ΓЄP, Buste drapé de Neron tête nue à droite
ΘYAT-ЄIPH/NΩ-N, Francisque
17 mm - 3.54 g - 1 h
Ref : GRPC Lydia # 143. RPC I # 2381

 

Did you know Victory was playing in the NBA ?

Q

 

[DonnaML]

Great thread. Here are some of my Neros:

A couple of Nero middle bronzes:

Nero, AE As, 65 AD Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, [NER]O CAESAR • AVG • GERM IMP / Rev. Temple of Janus with closed double doors on right, garland hanging above doors, latticed windows and wall to left [flan flaw at wall], PACE P R VBIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT, S|C across fields. RIC I Nero 306, BMCRE I Nero 227, Sear RCV I 1974 (ill. p. 390), Cohen 171. 27 mm., 9.61 g., 7 h.

Nero, AE As, 65 AD Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, NERO CAESAR  AV-G • GERM IMP / Rev. Victory alighting left, wings spread, holding shield inscribed SPQR, S|C across fields. RIC I Nero 312, BMCRE I Nero 241, Sear RCV I 1976 (ill. p. 391), Cohen 288. 28 mm., 11.9 g., 12 h. Purchased from Robert Morris (Numi Numismatic), Brighton MI, 29 Oct. 2022, ex. Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger Auction 375, 22 Sep 2022, Lot 1310.

A youthful Nero on a silver drachm from Antioch:

Nero AR Drachm, AD 56/57 (Year 3), Syria, Seleucis & Pieria, Antioch Mint. Obv. Laureate head of young Nero right, ΝΕΡΩΝΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΣΕΒΑ (beginning at upper right) / Rev. Tripod altar (supporting cauldron or lebes) with serpent entwined around center leg; ΔΡΑ-ΧΜΗ to sides (ΔΡΑ upwards on left; ΧΜΗ downwards on right), forming single word ΔΡΑΧΜΗ (“drachma”); above tripod, EP [for Year 105 of Caesarean Era) and Γ [for Nero’s Regnal Year 3]. McAlee 278(a) at p. 140 & n. 214 (ill. p. 141); Prieur 78; RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. I 4179 (1992); RPC Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/4179.  18 mm., 3.65 g., 1 h. Purchased at CNG [Classical Numismatic Group, LLC] E-Auction 512, 23 March 2022, Lot 399.*

*See McAlee p. 133: "An interesting feature of Nero's early silver coinage [in Antioch] is the presence of didrachms and drachms, which are exceptional for Antioch. There can be no doubt about the denominations, because in some cases the value is identified by the reverse legend. Presumably the coins were so inscribed to facilitate circulation of the unfamiliar denominations. Nor can there be any doubt that they were struck at Antioch, because the portrait style and date link them to the tetradrachms with reverse Agrippina Jr."

Some Nero tetradrachms from Roman Alexandria:

Nero, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 11 (64/65 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Radiate head of Nero, right, ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑV ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ AY / Rev. Draped bust of Poppea Sabina [second wife of Nero and former wife of Otho], right, ΠΟΠΠΑΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ around, LIA [Year 11] in right field. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. I 5280 (1992)]; RPC Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/5280; Emmett 128.11[Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; Dattari (Savio) 197-198 [Savio, A. ed., Catalogo completo della collezione Dattari Numi Augg. Alexandrini (Trieste, 2007)]; Milne 223 at p. 7 [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)]; K&G 14.85 (ill. p. 59) [Kampmann, Ursula & Ganschow, Thomas, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria  (2008)]; BMC 16 Alexandria 124 at p. 16 [Poole, Reginald Stuart, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 16, Alexandria (London 1892)]; Sear RCV I 2002 (Year 11; ill. of Year 10, at p. 394). 26.5 mm., 12.98 g.  Purchased from Odysseus Numismatique, Montpellier, France, Sep. 2021.

Nero, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 12 (65/66 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Radiate bust of Nero with aegis, right, ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑV ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ / Rev. Bust of Alexandria, right, wearing elephant headdress, AYTO-KPA around, LIB [Year 12] in right field.  RPC I Online 5289, Emmett 109.12, Milne 238 at p. 7, K&G 14.88. 20x23 mm., 12.11 g.

Nero and Divus Augustus, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 13 (AD 66/67), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Radiate head of Nero left, ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑV ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ AY; in left field, LIΓ (Year 13) / Rev. Radiate head of Augustus right,  ΘΕΟΣ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ.  24 mm., 11.6 g. RPC I Online 5294 (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/5294), Emmett 113.13, Milne 251 at p. 7, BMC 16 Alexandria 112 at p. 15, Dattari (Savio) 184, Sear RCV I 2007 (ill. p. 394).

Nero, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 13 (AD 66/67), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Radiate bust of Nero left wearing aegis (with serpent upright) on left shoulder, ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑV ΚΑΙΣ [ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ ΑV]; in left field before Nero, L beneath ΙΓ (Year 13) / Rev. Galley under sail right, flags at masthead and at top corners of mainsail, standard on prow, and helmsman standing right at stern; below ship, two dolphins right, playing in waves; [ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΦΟΡΟΣ]. 25.1 mm., 13.33 g.  RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. I  5296 (1992); RPC I Online 5296 (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/5296 ); Emmett 121.13; Milne 273 (p. 8); BMC 16 Alexandria 176-177 (p. 21) (ill. Pl. XXX); K&G 14.99 (ill. p. 60); SNG Fr. IV, Alexandria I 514-520 (ill. Pl. 37); Sear RCV I 2009 (p. 395). Purchased from Dr. Busso Peus Nachf., Frankfurt a.M., Germany, Auction 434, 27 Apr. 2023, Lot 360 (ex “Collection of Dr. E.”).*

*According to the description of this type in the catalog for CNG’s Triton XXI, “The Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection of the Coins of Roman Alexandria,” Jan. 9, 2018, Lot 16 (ill. p. 17), the type most likely “commemorates Nero’s visit to Greece in AD 66-67.” 

Finally, my favorite Nero denarius out of the three I own, with a nice pedigree not mentioned by the dealer (HJB):

Nero, AR denarius, AD 65-66 Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate head right, NERO CAESAR – AVGVSTVS / Rev. Hexastyle (six-columned) temple of Vesta on podium of four steps, circular and with domed roof, containing seated statue of the goddess, facing, holding patera in raised left hand and scepter in right hand; VESTA above temple.* 18 mm., 3.45 g. RIC I Nero 62, RSC II Nero 335, BMCRE I Nero 104, Sear RCV I 1946 (ill. p. 384). Purchased from Harlan J. Berk, Ltd., Chicago, IL, 226^th Buy or Bid Sale, Dec. 2023, Lot 395; ex NFA [Numismatic Fine Arts International, Inc.], Los Angeles, CA, Fall Mail Bid Sale Oct. 12, 1988, Lot 769, from the Collection of Dr. George C. Brauer.**

 

Link to video: https://vimeo.com/892304479. 

*See Sear RCV I p. 383 (in the description of Nero’s aureus with the same reverse type, Sear RCV I 1933): “The celebrated temple of Vesta in the Roman Forum was destroyed in the great fire of AD 64. Nero rebuilt it and his structure, the sixth to be constructed on the site, survived until another catastrophic fire late in the reign of Commodus."

**The description of this lot in HJB's 226th BBS catalog said nothing about the coin's pedigree. However, this old coin ticket came with the coin:

I wasn't collecting ancient coins back in the day when NFA was in business, but I know enough to be aware from general reading that the initials stood for Numismatic Fine Arts International, which was owned by Bruce McNall and was one of the leading ancient coin dealers before it collapsed when he went to prison (and also employed Rob Freeman, who went on to have his own fiasco with Freeman & Sear). It was easy enough to find a lot of old NFA catalogs online through the Newman Numismatic Portal, and to figure out that NFA moved from Beverly Hills to Los Angeles sometime in 1986. So, based on the assumption that the "769" on the upper right of the coin ticket referred to a lot number, I simply started looking through all the NFA catalogs issued after the move to Los Angeles that had at least 769 lots. It didn't take very long to find the right catalog, although I fully understand that the cataloger(s) at HJB don't have the time to investigate individual lots to that extent, particularly for coins of this price level. Here are the relevant portions of NFA's catalog for the Fall 1988 Mail Bid Sale:

Definitely the same coin, as is clear from the "irregular flan" shape above all else.

Here is the catalog's biography of George Brauer (who died five years later, on Sep 27, 1993). I admit that the name was unfamiliar to me, although a Google search shows that he was fairly well-known, both as a collector of ancient coins and antiquities, and as an author of books on ancient numismatics and ancient history in general:

 

[DonnaML]

And a new one that just arrived yesterday, a Nero tetradrachm struck in Antioch. See the writeup at https://www.numisforums.com/topic/60-post-your-latest-ancient/page/55/#comment-84167 .

 

[Limes]

On 4/25/2024 at 5:25 PM, kirispupis said:

Although I mostly focus on Greek coins, I'll occasionally pick up Romans and my general goal is to obtain one coin from each emperor in a sort of Pokémon craze. Because I focus mainly on affordable coins in this space, I'm missing quite a few. However, one emperor that has been at the top of my list has been Nero, primarily because we share the same birthday.

Because of that, I'd been planning to make a "big splash" by purchasing an extremely nice coin, but this one came up recently at auction and I rather liked it.

Nero 54-68 CE
Denarius Lugdunum 56-57 CE
AR 19.00mm, 3.67 g
Bare head r.
Rev. EX SC within wreath C 207
RIC 12

 

What drove me to this coin was that it was minted during the early part of Nero's reign, which was considered quite good. He's depicted young here, before he became the fat monster that made him infamous. I also like that his name is very prominent.

The funny thing is I wasn't even watching this coin at the auction, but I was targeting two rare Greek coins and two Koinon of Macedons. When I lost out on my top two targets but picked up the two others at minimum bid, I decided to aim for some "anti-snacks" and bid on three Roman coins with the aim of winning one to make the shipping worth it - only I wound up with all three (the others were Drusus son of Tiberius and Clodius Albinus).

So, even though it's nowhere near as impressive as many Nero coins, I'm very happy with my pickup and I can now cross off the top Roman target from my list.

Feel free to show your Nero examples!

Nice first Nero issue, since mostly available in silver are the Salus reverse types. For your first nero issue, you certainly got a very interesting type!

My first issue was this AE As. 

My latest issue is this one, with Nero. as Apolle, playing the lyre. Never a dull moment with Nero...