Nero. AD 54-68. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.53 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 64-65. NGC Photo Certificate graded Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5.

CNG Feature Auction 132
Lot: 27.
Closing Date: May 19 2026 11:00 ET

The PLZ Collection, Silver

Estimate: $ 15 000

BID NOW

Nero. AD 54-68. AR Denarius (17.5mm, 3.53 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 64-65. NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / IVPPITER CVSTOS, Jupiter, with cloak around lower limbs, bare to waist, seated left on throne, holding thunderbolt in right hand and long vertical scepter in left. RIC I 53; WCN 57; RSC 119; BMCRE 74-6; BN 220-1. NGC Photo Certificate graded Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5. A superb coin and surely among the finest known.

From the PLZ Collection. Ex Millennia Collection (Goldberg 46, 26 May 2008), lot 89; Triton VII (13 January 2004), lot 869.

Possibly the most pristine coin in my collection, with suberb detail and sharpness. (PLZ)

This reverse type commemorates the protection of Nero from the Pisonian Conspiracy. Events of the years 64-65 AD defined the subsequent reputation of Nero as a cruel and self-indulgent ruler. His excesses resulted in a conspiracy to overthrow and replace him with Gaius Calpurnius Piso, a respected senator from a venerable family. Among the conspirators were many high-ranking members of Nero's court including Seneca the Younger, the poet Lucan, and Petronius, who called himself Nero's "arbiter of elegance." To Nero, the failure of a conspiracy made up of those so close to him could have been achieved only through divine intervention. As the king of the gods oversaw the security of the Roman state, Nero believed it was Jupiter the Guardian (Custos) who had saved him from harm. Not everyone enjoyed such divine favor: In all, 19 alleged conspirators, including Piso himself, were put to death or forced to commit suicide, while 13 others were exiled.

The offered coin is simply spectacular. Struck from fresh dies, the details on both obverse and reverse place this coin at the very top of known survivors. Truly a coin destined for the finest collection.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session One – Lot 1-318 will be held Monday morning, 18 May 2026 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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