Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Sestertius (36.5mm, 25.61 g, 6h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck AD 66. Good VF.

Triton XXVIII
Lot: 663. Estimated: $ 3 000

Roman Imperial, Bronze, Coin-in-Hand Video

Sold For $ 7 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Sestertius (36.5mm, 25.61 g, 6h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck AD 66. IMP • NERO • CAESAR • AVG • PONT • MAX • TR • POT • P • P •, laureate head right; globe at point of neck / ADLOCVT COH in exergue, S C across field, Nero standing left with praetorian prefect on low platform to right, addressing three soldiers to left, standing right, the first two holding signa; the praetorian camp in the background. RIC I 490; WCN 437; Lyon 176/1a (D390/R412); BMCRE 304 var. (bust type); BN 132 var. (same); cf. Elkins, Monuments Figure 80 (for rev. type). Attractive dark green patina, smoothing, details enhanced. Good VF. Very rare architectural type on reverse, showing the Praetorian camp.

The Praetorians were an elite unit of soldiers stationed in a purpose-built fortress in Rome. Composed of nine enlarged cohorts of 1,000 men apiece, for a total theoretical strength of 9,000, the Praetorian “Guard” served as the emperor’s personal fighting force both in Rome and on campaign. Praetorians received triple the pay of ordinary soldiers and had to serve only 16 years instead of the 20 required for regular legionaries. They were consequently greatly resented both by the regular soldiery and by the civilians of Rome, who they were often called upon to suppress. Estimates of their fitness as a fighting force in the field vary; they seem to have accounted themselves well enough in the campaigns of Trajan, Marcus Aurelius and Septimius Severus, but when called upon to fight regular units in Rome’s numerous civil wars, they almost always suffered defeat.

The final winners of all Triton XXVIII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 14-15 January 2025.

Triton XXVIII – Session Three – Lot 558–829 will be held Wednesday morning, 15 January 2025 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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