Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 1198. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 8 June 2005.  Sold For $750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch. Nero. As Caesar, 50-54 AD. AR Didrachm (7.34 gm, 12h). Bare-headed and draped bust right / DIDRACMON, simpulum and lituus. RPC I 4171; Prieur 70; SNG Copenhagen 375 (Ephesus). Good VF, light porosity under dark toning. Excellent portrait of the young Nero. ($300)

From the Garth R. Drewry Collection. Ex Stack's 499 (2-3 December 1997), lot 802.

Apparently the first didrachm struck at Antioch, and marked with the denomination to aid in identification. Whatever the reason for the introduction of the denomination, it proved a failure; two other types were struck early in Nero's reign, and then the didrachm disappeared.