Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Orichalcum As (23mm, 5.31 g, 7h). Rome mint. Struck AD 64.

Electronic Auction 505
Lot: 452. Estimated: $ 100

Roman Imperial, Orichalcum

Sold For $ 325. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Orichalcum As (23mm, 5.31 g, 7h). Rome mint. Struck AD 64. Radiate head right / Nero, as Apollo Citharoedus, advancing right, singing and playing lyre; I in exergue. RIC I 205; WCN 275. Brown patina with lighter highlights, minor roughness. VF.

From the Demeter Collection. Ex Pegasi BBS 117 (31 January 2000), lot 249.

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.

Closing Date and Time: 1 December 2021 at 12:30:20 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 18% buyer’s fee.