Sestertius of Nero

Aethelred · February 25, 2014 10:27AM

This came in the mail from Europe today:

It is a bronze Sestertius of Nero that was minted in AD 66 at the Lugdunum Mint in southern Gaul. AD 66 was the year that things began to turn very much against Nero. The Jews rebelled in the east, his popularity hit its lowest point to date with not only the Senate and the military, but also the people (graffiti from the period shows, by 66 Nero had become something of a comic figure with the people). This coin is 34mm in diameter and tips the scale at a hefty 25.6g

savoyspecial · February 25, 2014 10:56AM

...these must be very common, I saw one just today in fact.....

Nice Coin!

harasha · February 25, 2014 11:07AM

Nero did remain popular in the Grecian states.

Swampboy · February 25, 2014 11:54AM

I love these big old bronzes . That's a nice one!
Enjoy.

nicholasz219 · February 26, 2014 5:04AM

That's a very nice Nero. The large sesterius are some really magnificent templates for great art. I have been looking to pick up a Nero for my 12 set even though I have two of the Egyptian issues, I really do not like the radiate crowns on those. Now, there is one less sharp piece to buy.

lordmarcovan · February 27, 2014 6:41PM

A big first century sestertius from one of the more infamous emperors is a thing of wonder.

I still like my *ahem* your "Space Shuttle" Nero dupondius better.

WillieBoyd2 · February 27, 2014 11:33PM

I have one of these but not in as good shape as the above one:

Nero Sestertius Roma Seated
Obverse: Laureate head right (IMP NERO) CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM PM TRP XIII PP
Reverse: Roma seated left on cuirass, holding sceptre and resting arm on shield, S C at sides, ROMA in exergue
Metal: Bronze
Size: 33mm
Weight: 22.48gm
Catalog: RIC 356
Struck: AD 67

I guess that we now have both sides of the beloved Emperor.

Aethelred · February 28, 2014 12:36AM

A neat example Willie, to me there are few things as awesome as a first century sestertius.

Aethelred · February 28, 2014 12:38AM

<< <i>

I still like my *ahem* your "Space Shuttle" Nero dupondius better.

>>

I liberated that one from the plastic.

lordmarcovan · February 28, 2014 12:41AM

This Galba was the only first-century sestertius I've ever had. And a bit of a toughie, emperor-wise.

Sure, not in fantastic shape, but not bad, either. I got it for slightly less than 400 bucks, back in 2007. (Edit- no- wait- it might have even been as low as $295! I forget, exactly.)

Anyway, were it even just the tiniest bit nicer, I don't need to tell most of you that this would've been a four-figure-priced coin.

Sadly, in my focus on slabbing ancients (yes, you can ridicule me again, and I no doubt deserve it here), I parted with this piece since NGC wouldn't slab it. (Something about "authenticity unverifiable", since it had some rim filing or something.)

The dealer I'd bought it from cheerfully bought it back, even though this was years later. Neither he nor I had any doubts about its authenticity. It was just one of those nice coins that wasn't meant to be entombed in a plastic slab, that's all.

Within a day or two of his returning it to his inventory, it was snapped up again.

So be the moral of the tale. Live by the slab, die by the slab. (That's been a mixed bag for me.)

Aethelred · February 28, 2014 11:56AM

Think about it this way, you had the coin longer than Galba had the throne.

NiceCurrency · March 1, 2014 1:18AM

<< <i>Think about it this way, you had the coin longer than Galba had the throne. >>

NiceCurrency · March 1, 2014 1:18AM

Fun and nice looking Sestertii and LordM that was a great Galba!

Sestertius of Nero

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