213, Lot: 399. Estimate $300. Sold for $600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Nero. AD 54-68. Æ As (29mm, 10.69 g, 6h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck circa AD 65. Bare head left, globe at point of neck / Emperor, as Apollo Citharoedus, advacing right, holding lyre. RIC I 417. VF, green patina, area of roughness.

Nero felt his musical talents were a wonder to behold and so shared them with everyone he could force to listen. He won prizes at every competition at which he performed while touring Greece, and upon his return to Italy, he led a procession to the capital where he was cheered by the incredulous spectators along the way. He caused to be set up many statues of himself playing the lyre along the route, and Suetonius even mentions a coin with the same device. This is no doubt that same type, and thus presents an opportunity to own a coin specifically mentioned by an ancient author.