344. Sestertius, 27.24g (6h). Rome, c. 65-6 AD. Obv: NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P Head laureate right. Rx: ROMA in exergue, S - C across field, Roma seated left on captured cuirass and arms, left foot on helmet, holding Victory and parazonium. BM 173. Bust variety of Paris 369, Cohen 261, and RIC 273. This coin omits the usual aegis on Nero’s front shoulder. Obverse slightly doublestruck. EF $3,800
345. Dupondius, 13.52g (8h). Lugdunum, 66-8 AD. Obv: IMP NERO CAESAR AVG P MAX TR P P P Head laureate right, globe below neck. Rx: VICTORIA - A - V - GVS - TI around, S - C across field, Victory advancing left holding wreath and palm. BM 353. Paris 144. RIC 522=601. Cohen 343. Good EF $6,400
346. Hemidrachm, 1.77g (1h). Caesarea, c. 58-60 AD. Obv: NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMANI Head laureate right. Rx: No legend, Victory seated right on globe, holding wreath before her with both hands. RPC 3645 (23 coins, 18 obv. dies). Sydenham 82. Partially toned. Good VF $350
348. Nero, naming Vespasian as governor of Syria. 54-68 AD. AE 24, 11.67g (12h). Sepphoris, Galilea, Year 14=67/8 AD. Obv: Caduceus between two crossed cornucopias, legend names Sepphoris Irenopolis (City of Peace) and Neronias (all here off flan) and begins “Under Vespasian”, [E]ΠI OYECΠACIA[NOY]. Rx: L ΔI / NEPΩNO / KΛAYΔIOY / KAICAPO / C in five lines within wreath. Hendin 1276. RPC 4849 (14 spec.). Good VF $1,700 Cf. Hendin, 4th ed., p. 407: “The earliest coins of Sepphoris were issued in 68 C.E. by Agrippa II, naming Vespasian under the emperor Nero. These coins establish that Vespasian was a governor as well as a general before he took the throne”.
349. Civil War: Augustus Type. Denarius, 3.85g (7h). Spanish or Gallic mint, 68 AD. Obv: CAESAR - DIVI F P P Laureate head of Augustus right. Rx: PAX Clasped hands before caduceus between two crossed cornucopias. Obv. legend var. of RIC 103 (R4), Martin A22, Nicholas 21, Paris 57, Cohen 219 (100 Fr.), and BMC p. 304. A very rare reverse type, coupled with an obverse legend that was hitherto unknown in the Augustus series of the Civil War of 68 AD. Nicely toned. Good EF $9,400 This interesting reverse type, which was not merely copied from a type of Augustus himself but newly created to express a wish for a peaceful and prosperous settlement of the crisis of 68 AD, had previously only been attested with the obverse legends CAESAR AVGVSTVS (references above) and DIVVS AVG P P (RIC 113). Our obverse legend CAESAR DIVI F P P is in fact altogether new in the Civil War series for Augustus; the closest parallels being AVG DIVI F P P and CAESAR DIVI F, RIC’s legends 3 and 7 (p. 210).
347. Nero and Divus Claudius. 54-68 AD. Didrachm, 5.55g (5h). Caesarea, Cappadocia, 63-6 AD. Obv: NERO CLAVD DI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMA Laureate head of Nero right. Rx: DIVOS CLAVD AVGVST GERMANIC PATER AV[G] Laureate head of Claudius right. RPC 3653 (8 spec., from 5 obv. dies), pl. 144 (same dies). BM Antioch 174. Sydenham 68. Unusual abbreviation DI for DIVI in obverse legend. Good VF $1,500 Ex CNG 97, 17 September 2014, lot 481. Ex Patrick H.C. Tan Collection. Ex CNG 57, 4 April 2001, lot 836. Ex Sternberg X, 25 November 1980, lot 298.
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Enlargement