121
3122
Nero. Silver Denarius (3.53 g), AD 54-68.
Rome, ca.
AD 64/5. NERO CAESAR, laureate head of Nero right
sporting slight beard.
Reverse:
AVGVSTVS GERMAN-
ICVS, Nero standing facing, radiate and togate, holding
Victory on globe and laurel branch. RIC 47; WCN 22;
BMC 60; RSC 45. A wonderful bold strike on a full flan
and perfectly centered. Every whisker on Nero is com-
plete and the the facing figure of Nero on the reverse is
also incredible. Lovely pastel iridescent toning on both
sides adds to its appeal.
Superb Extremely Fine.
S
truck circa AD 64/5, this coin’s reverse shows the
monumental bronze statue of Nero in the guise of Sol
that was originally just outside of the main palace
entrance of Nero’s Domus Aurea (‘Golden House’).
The Greek sculptor, Zenodoros, constructed the
statue between AD 64 and 68, thus the representa-
tion on the coin predates the completed statue. Af-
ter Nero’s downfall, Vespasian replaced the head
of the statue with one of the god Sol himself. In the
second century, Hadrian had the statue moved ad-
jacent to the Flavian Amphitheater, from which that
building derives its popular name, the Colosseum.
Estimated Value .................................. $10,000 - 13,000
