Roman Imperial: Nero, as Augustus (AD 54-68). AE sestertius (35mm, 26.58 gm, 7h). NGC XF 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style....

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Nero, as Augustus (AD 54-68). AE sestertius (35mm, 26.58 gm, 7h). NGC XF 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. Lugdunum, AD 66. IMP NERO CAESAR AVG PONT MAX TR P P P, laureate head of Nero right, with globe at point of truncation / View of triumphal arch, showing front and left hand sides, surmounted by emperor in facing quadriga escorted by Victory (on right) holding wreath and palm, and Pax (on left) holding caduceus and cornucopia, the upper level flanked at extremely left and right by statue of soldiers, niche on left side containing figure of Mars standing facing, spear in right hand, shield in left, wreath across open archway, the faces and plinths decorated with ornamental reliefs; S-C across fields. RIC I 498 var. (globe not mentioned). Exemplary example of this rare type with only two other examples on sales archives.

Nero, born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus in 37 AD, ascended to the Roman imperial throne in 54 AD, initiating a tumultuous reign that both captivated and horrified contemporaries. Initially perceived as a youthful and promising ruler, Nero's early years were marked by relative stability. However, his later years were characterized by a series of erratic and tyrannical acts. Nero's infatuation with the arts and his lavish spending on grandiose construction projects, such as the Domus Aurea, strained the Roman treasury. His ruthless suppression of the Pisonian conspiracy and persecution of Christians tarnished his legacy further. The Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, though often attributed to Nero, remains a subject of historical debate. Ultimately, Nero's reign culminated in a revolt by the Roman Senate, leading to his suicide in 68 AD, marking the end of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and leaving a complex legacy as both a patron of the arts and a symbol of tyranny in Roman history.

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