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Auction: 23007 - Ancient Coins Including the 'Kyrios' Collection of Greek Coins and featuring the 'Ostorius' Collection of Roman Gold
Lot: 190

The 'Ostorius' Collection | NGC Choice VF | Roman Empire, Nero (54-68), AV Aureus, AD 64-65, Rome, NERO CAESAR, laureate head right rev. AVGVSTVS GERMANICVS Nero, radiate and togate, standing facing, holding branch and Victory on globe, 7.24g, 6h (Cohen 44; BMC 56; RIC 46; Calicó 402), lightly cleaned and a trace off-centre, test marks to edge, otherwise residually lustrous, a pleasing very fine, in NGC Ancients holder, very harshly graded Choice VF ~ Ex Jewellery (Cert. #6768668-004) [Strike 5/5; Surfaces 2/5]

The reverse celebrates the Triumph of Corbulo in Armenia in 63 and depicts Nero's Colossus, a once 120-foot tall bronze statue of the Emperor as Sol that was created by Zenodorus for the vestibule of the Domus Aurea - the massive palace constructed by Nero after the Great fire of Rome in AD 64. It became symbolic of Neronian excess and although expunged from the skyline shortly after his deposition of AD68, is at least preserved in the foundations of the Flavian Ampitheatre completed on the site a decade later, better remembered today as 'the Colosseum'.

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Sold for
£2,400

Starting price
£2400