hitahomer-07 : Emperor Nero .. Roman Silver Denarius . Ancient Coin

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Emperor Nero .. Ancient Roman Silver Denarius .. Extremely Fine .. EF

This ancient Roman silver denarius was minted for Emperor Nero, one of the most notorious and deranged rulers of the Roman Empire. Nero is noted for his cruelty, tyranny, extravagance and megalomania. He murdered everyone around him -- even his family, friends and closest advisors. His reign of terror gave him 14 years as the most powerful man in the world.

Nero was the great, great, grandson of Emperor Augustus, the great, great nephew of Julius Caesar and the great grandson of
Mark Antony. He became heir to the throne after his mother (Agrippina the Younger) was married to Emperor Claudius. It didn't take long for Agrippina to tire of Claudius so she murdered him with poisoned mushrooms, which allowed Nero to assume the throne at the age of 16 in the year 54.

The image of Nero in this coin shows shows him as somewhat bloated and slovenly as opposed to his earlier coins which depicted him as fairly normal and good-looking. The Roman historian Suetonius describes Nero as "about the average height, his body marked with spots and malodorous, his hair light blond, his features regular rather than attractive, his eyes blue and somewhat weak, his neck over thick, his belly prominent, and his legs very slender."

The first few years of his rule were quite benign because Nero was under the influence of his mother Agrippina, his tutor
Seneca and the Praetorian Prefect Burrus. Eventually Nero was able to wrest total control of power, which angered his mother. She plotted to have Nero replaced by his half brother Britannicus, so Nero murdered Britannicus and exiled Agrippina. Eventually he tried to kill his mother by having a ship on which she was sailing sunk, but she was able to swim to shore and survived. He soon had her executed anyway.

Nero had his wife Octavia executed, then married Poppaea only to kick her to death while she was pregnant with his child.

Nero's oppressive policies and rough treatment of the Senate caused some conspiracies to develop. Nero heard of these plots
and began having Senators murdered. Many of them were guilty of treason, but many others were killed merely because Nero
wanted their estates and riches.

Eventually Nero became more interested in living a life of luxury and debauchery than running the Empire. He spent all his
time at brothels, taverns, plays and recitals. Nero even began particpating in the arts as a singer and musician, which
scandalized the nobility of Rome. In those days artists were slaves or very poor people from the lower classes and were
looked down upon by the rich and powerful. The citizens of Rome found it humiliating that their ruler would stoop so low as
to take the stage.

In the year 64 a great fire swept through Rome, destroying huge swathes in the center of the city. Rumors swirled that Nero
had started the fires and sang a song of ancient Troy while he watched the city engulfed in flames. Nero confiscated the
burned properties and built a huge, golden palace for himself. He commissioned a gigantic 100 foot tall statue of himself
called the Colossus of Nero, which later leant its name to a huge arena that was built next to it -- the Colosseum.

Nero blamed the fire on a little-known sect called the Christians. He had thousands of them killed in the most gruesome
manner. Many were killed by wild beasts, many were crucified, some were soaked in oil and set afire to light up Nero's
gardens at night. Saints Peter and Paul were martyred during this frightful period in Rome.

Nero competed in the Olympic Games in the year 67 in Greece. In one event he drove a 10-horse chariot in a race but was
thrown onto the track at high speed and nearly died. He was declared victor anyway! In fact, he won every event he entered.
No one would dare finish ahead of him.

In the year 68 the governor of Spain, Galba, began a rebellion that quickly gained the support of the Senate and the army.
Nero was sentenced to be beaten to death. He decided to commit suicide and stabbed himself in the neck after crying "The
world is losing a great artist!"

This rare silver denarius was minted in Rome in the year 66 or 67. The legend reads IMP NERO CAESAR AUG PP, which is an abbreviated form of "Imperator Nero Caesar Augustus Pater Patriae". Imperator is an honorific title given to generals that have won a major victory against an enemy of Rome. Nero Caesar indicates that Nero was a member of the Julio-Claudian family that had ruled Rome for nearly a century beginning with Julius Caesar. Augustus was a title first bestowed on the first Roman emperor, Octavian, and proclaimed that the bearer of the title had supreme authority in the state. Pater Patriae means "Father of His Country", meaning that Nero had the honor and responsibility of leading and taking care of the people of Rome as if they were his family. The obverse features a well-struck portrait of Nero wearing the laurel wreath, which served the same purpose as a crown. The laurel wreath was only awarded to a successful military commander during his Triumph through the streets of Rome. Nero chose this depiction for some of his coins to remind the citizens of his victories over the Parthians and his defeat of the Boudica revolt in Britain.

The reverse features the Roman goddess Salus enthroned facing left holding a patera in her hand. She was the goddess of health, welfare, safety and particularly the prevention of sickness. Her Greek name was Hygieia, which is the origin of the English word hygiene. The patera was a vessel used to pour libations or scatter grain and salt. It was often used as a symbol of the priesthood. In choosing this goddess for his coins, Nero was proclaiming his concern about public health and reminding the populace of Rome about the resources he had devoted to building baths, improving the water supply and providing food for the people of the Empire.

The coin is in Extremely Fine condition. The coin has been preserved through the centuries in extraordinary condition. It is very unusual to find a 2000 year old silver coin with such great properties. The strike is strong and clear. The centering is very good. The design details are as crisp and clean as the day it was minted in an ancient workshop. Truly a magnificent example. Now is your opportunity to own and enjoy a spectacular ancient Roman silver denarius with tremendous historical significance. Act now to add this museum-quality historical artifact to your collection before somebody else beats you to it.

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