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ID: |
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31-27 |
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[UNVERIFIED]
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| Type: |
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Roman Imperial |
| Issuer: |
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Nero |
| Date Ruled: |
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A.D. 54-68
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| Metal: |
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Gold |
| Denomination: |
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Aureus |
| Struck / Cast: |
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struck |
| Date Struck: |
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AD October-December 54 |
| Diameter: |
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20 mm |
| Weight: |
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7.56 g |
| Obverse Legend: |
|
AGRIPP AVG DIVI CLAVD NERONIS CAES MATER |
| Obverse Description: |
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Confronted busts of Nero, bare-headed right, and Agrippina Minor, draped left |
| Reverse Legend: |
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NERONI CLAVD DIVI F CAES AVG GERM IMP TR P / EX S C |
| Reverse Description: |
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Legend around oak wreath, enclosing EX S C |
| Primary Reference: |
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RIC 001 |
| Reference2: |
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BMC 006 |
| Reference3: |
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C 6 |
| Reference4: |
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Kent-Hirmer pl. 54, 188 (these dies); CBN 5; Vagi 656; Calicó 399 |
| Photograph Credit: |
|
Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG |
| Source: |
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http://arsclassicacoins.com |
| Price Sold For: |
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53000 Swiss Franc |
| Date Sold: |
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10/26/2005 |
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Grade:
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gEF |
| Notes: |
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NAC Auction 31, Lot 27
Very rare and among the finest specimens known. Two marvellous portraits well struck
in high relief. Good extremely fine
Since early in his reign, Nero paid heed to the input of his mother, his praetorian prefect Burrus and his famous tutor the younger Seneca, making his reign a breath of fresh air. Indeed, the first three months of his reign must have seemed a great relief from the oppressions the senatorial class suffered under Claudius. Nero's first coinage was mindful of his direct family: the deified Claudius is honoured, as is his mother Agrippina Junior, who initially had regency over him. Indeed, on his first mother-son coinage, Nero's inscription is not only relegated to the reverse, but it is presented in the dedicatory dative because it applied to the wreath which comprises the design. This would seem an unfavourable comparison to his mother's inscription, which not only is on the obverse, but is in the usual nominative case, indicating that it actually was an issue of hers. However, with the succeeding jugate-bust issue of 55, Nero is clearly staking his independence as the inscriptions are reversed (Nero's is on the obverse, this time in the usual nominative, and his mother's is on the reverse). It may seem a minor change, but the Roman nobility would not have overlooked it. Inscriptions aside, the reason for the abrupt bust change from confronted to jugate may never be known. Since Nero holds the position of honor in both arrangements, there is no significance on that level. However, one might speculate that since mother and son appear ready to kiss on the confronted busts coins (rumours were rampant of Agrippina's seductive hold over her teenage son), the change might have occurred to prevent jokes at their expense. |
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