Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 25.19 g, 6h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck circa AD 65. Near VF.

Electronic Auction 571 – Session 2
Lot: 1022.
Closing Date: Sep 26 2024 10:00 ET

Roman Imperial, Bronze

Estimate: $ 500

BID NOW

Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 25.19 g, 6h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck circa AD 65. Laureate head right, globe at point of neck / Triumphal arch surmounted by statue of emperor in quadriga accompanied by Pax and Victory, flanked by two soldiers (torch bearers?), a nude, helmeted statue of Mars in side niche of arch, otherwise decorated with friezes of battle scenes. RIC I 432; WCN 422; Lyon 113; cf. Elkins, Monuments Figure 79 (for rev. type). Brown surfaces, brassy high points, some roughness, obverse die break. Near VF.

From the Sam Mansourati Collection.

This monumental triumphal arch was erected by Nero to commemorate Roman military campaigns against the Parthians in Mesopotamia and Armenia. Although not particularly successful in a military sense, with Paetus losing almost his entire army at Randeia in Armenia, the war did end with a peace treaty favorable to Rome that was upheld for nearly fifty years. This coin type is vitally important for architectural historians, for the arch was dismantled after Nero's ignominious end in 68 and is only known through its depiction on the coins.

Closing Date and Time: 26 September 2024 at 10:07:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.