117
Wonderful Young Head Denarius of Nero
3120
Nero. Silver Denarius (3.6 g), as Caesar, AD
50-54.
Rome, under Claudius, AD 51. NERONI
CLAVDIO DRVSO GERM COS DESIGN, bare-
headed and draped bust of Nero right.
Reverse:
EQUESTER / OR-DO / PRINCIPI / IVVENT
in four lines on shield, behind which stands a
spear. RIC 79; BMC 93; RSC 97. Rare. Well struck
and perfectly centered with all letters complete.
A couple of minute marks in the obverse field
hardly worthy of mention. Lovely old cabinet
toning with hints of iridescense present.
Choice
Extremely Fine.
Nero, born December 15 AD 37, was the son
of Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina the
Younger. While Nero was still a small child his
father died, and his mother later married her
uncle, the emperor Claudius. Claudius already
had a natural son, Britannicus, who was regard-
ed as heir apparent, but after marrying Agrip-
pina he began to favor Nero. In 51 Nero came
of age, donning the toga virilis (the universal
sign of Roman adulthood and citizenship), and
received signal honors: consul deignate with
tribunician powers, elevation to the high priest-
hoods, and the title princeps iuventutis which
is commemorated by the reverse of this coin.
Estimated Value ............................ $6,000 - 7,000
Ex Imagines Imperatorvm Sale (Aureo & Calicó, 8
February 2012), 29.
