1. Biography
Nero, originally named Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, was born on December 15th 37 AD at Antium. He was the great-great-grandson of Augustus and became emperor on October 13th 54 AD - at the age of 17. During the first five years of his reign, he dedicated himself to sports and art while his advisors Seneca and Burrus led the empire. He also grew interested in women other than Octavia, daughter of Claudius, whom he had married for political reasons only. Step by step, Nero started ruling himself, divorcing himself from Octavia and having his mother Agrippina and several important generals executed. This, and the fire of Rome, which Nero didn't adequately deal with, lead to the Pisonian conspiracy in 65 AD, which, however, was soon suppressed. Yet civil disturbances continued to arise, and after the Senate made Galba to emperor, Nero commited suicide on June 9th 68 AD.
2. Coinage
2.1. Some general notes
a.) Mints, Types and Dates
Gold and silver:
- Lugdunum 54-64, youthful, unbearded portrait of Nero, dated rev. legend TR P-TR P X, types Corona Civica 54-61, Ceres, Roma, Virtus 61-64.
- Rome 64-68, reduced standard, different, older portrait, sometimes bearded, different obv. legend with IMP becoming a praenomen in 66, P P added in 67 or 68, different reverse types without imperial titles.
Bronze:
- Rome 64-68, datable by the older portrait style corresponding to that on the gold and silver struck at Rome. IMP as cognomen until 66, as praenomen after 66, as on the gold and silver. Scarce dated obv. legends in 67 (TR P XIII) and 68 (TR P XIV). Many picturesque rev. types in 64-66, replaced by simpler, mainly unchanging types from then until the end of the reign.
- Lugdunum, also 64-68. Types and legends start as close copies of Rome, but the portrait has a globe at the tip of the neck which was never used at Rome. IMP again becomes a praenomen in 66, after that Lugdunum develops its own forms of obv. legend, but idiosyncratically continues to use the elaborate Roman rev. types of 64-66, mixed with the later Roman types of 66 on.
b.) Currency reformation 64 AD
In 64 AD, Nero undertook a reformation of the currency system to avoid precious metals to flow off the empire. He also moved the minting of gold and silver to Rome, while reducing both the content of noble metal in the coins and their weight. After the reform, the weight of the Aureus dropped down to 7.25-7.40 g, that of the Denarius down to 3.20-3.50 g with a silver content of only 93.50 %. Nontheless, Nero's Aurei and Denarii were very popular and circulated for a long time. The weight of the AE coins didn't change much, the Sestertii weighed 26-30 g, the Dupondii 15-17 g, the Asses 10.50-12.50 g, the Semisses 6.35 and the Quadrantes 2.10 g. Some Asses and Semisses were also issued in Aurichalcum at a weight of 8.50-9.50 resp. 3.65 g.
2.2. Portrait
During the 14 years of his reign, the portrait of Nero shows a significant progression. From the slim beardless youth, usually portrayed bare-headed, Nero develops to an apparently quite corpulent man with sideburns. To the modern eye, the late portraits do look rather unflattering.
Different portrait-types of Nero (Aurei/Denarii).
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56-57 AD
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57-58 AD
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59-60 AD
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60-62 AD
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63-64 AD
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64-68 AD
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Different portrait-types of Nero (AEs).
2.3. The Types
Nero's fondness for art also shows through on his coinage. Many of his coins, especially those in base metal, are true works of art. The variety and quality of reverse types is extraordinary and is often referred to as the culmination of Roman coin art.
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One of the most impressive coin types is the Sestertius of 64 AD, showing the port of Ostia out of aerial view, with several ships, a statue and Neptune. The legend reads POR OST / S - AVGVSTI - C. It is among the most famous Roman coin types in existence.
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Another impressive Sestertius is the type shown aside, struck 66 AD at Lugdunum. The obverse legend reads NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P, the reverse shows a magnificent triumphal arch between S - C, referring to the victories of Domitius Corbulo over Armenia and the Parthians.
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2.4. Coins
ROMANATIC DATABASE
