Classical Numismatic
1393. NERO. 54-68 AD. JE Sestertius (28.02 gm). Struck circa 65 AD. NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER Ρ M TR Ρ IMP Ρ Ρ, laureate head right, wearing aegis on shoulder / S-C across field, ROMA in exeigue, Roma seated left on cuirass, right foot on helmet, holding Victory and parazonium; around and behind, various shields. RIC 1273; Cf. BMCRE 173; BN 370; WCN 145; Cohen -. Near EF, brown patina. Outstanding clarity of detail in the aegis! ($1200)
Group, Inc.
1396. NERO. 54-68 AD. JE Sestertius (27.36 gm). Struck circa 66 AD. IMP NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERPMTRPIMPPP, laureate bust of Nero right / S-C across field, ROMA in exergue, Roma seated left on cuirass, right foot on helmet, holding Victory and sceptre; around and behind, various shields. RIC 1333; BMCRE 171; BN 413; WCN161; Cohen 274. Near EF, excellent green patina. ($2500) The James Fox Collection.
The aegis, a small cloak or shield made ofa goat's skin and emblazoned with the head ofMedusa, was Jiqjiter's storm-cloud. When battling enemies, he would shake the aegis musing it to thunder and lighten, strikingfear into any who opposed him. The aegis eventually bemme a standing attribute ofJupiter's daughter Minerva, and in classical art she is usually portrayed using the aegis as a breastplate. The Roman emperors adopted the aegis essentially to associate themselves Jupiter or when they claimed Minerva as their patron, and it wasfirstemployed on imperial coinage during the reign ofNero.
Exceptional Nero Sestertius
1394. NERO. 54-68 AD. JE Sestertius (28.82 gm). Struck circa 65 AD. NERO CLAVD C AE-SAR AVG GER Ρ M TR Ρ IMP Ρ Ρ, laureate head left / S-C across field, ROMA in exergue, Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory and parazonium, resting right foot on helmet, shields behind. RIC I 274; BMCRE 178; BN -; WCN 150; Cohen 262. Near EF, light brown patina. ($18)ש
1397. NERO. 54-68 AD. JE Sestertius (26.22 gm). Struck circa 66 AD. Lyon mint. IMP NERO CAESAR AVG PONT MAX TR POT Ρ Ρ, laureate head left, globe on trunk of neck / ANNONA AVGVSTI CERES, S C in exergue, Ceres on right, seated left, holding grain-ears and torch, facing Annona, standing right, holding cornucopiae; between them, modius on garlanded altar; behind, ship's stern. RIC 1495; BMCRE -; BN 133; WCN 445; Cohen 22. EF, original dark green patina. ($4000)
1395. NERO. 54-68 AD. JE Sestertius (25.72 gm). Struck 65 AD. NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER Ρ M TR Ρ IMP Ρ Ρ, laureate head right / S C across field, ROMA in exergue, Roma seated left on cuirass, right foot on helmet, holding Victory and resting left arm on shield; around and behind, various shields. RIC 1277 (variety); Cf. BMCRE 168ff; Cohen -; WCN 147. Good VF, wonderfully executed dies. ($2000)
The reverse type depicting Annona and Ceres, the goddesses ofannual produce and agriculture, is a general allusion to Rome's grain supply. Since Rome was unable to feed itselffrom its immediate neighborhood and had to depend on grain mainlyfrom North Africa and Sicily, the shipmen t of grain was a matter ofthe greatest importance The consumption of Rome's partially parasitic society, which in Nero's time amoun t ed to approximately one-fifth of the total urban population (i.e., 200,000 souls), requi seven million bushels of grain annually, and if it were lacking, or even if there was th belief that it had been adversely affected, could lead to wholesale mob violence. Nem paid particular attention to the city's grain supply and he was very popular with the commonfolk because ofthatfact. The issuance of this reverse type on the coinage, as well as the Port of Ostia reverse, was propaganda intended to boost public confid in the grain supply.
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