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Both sides of an irregularly shaped bronze coin with relief decoration on each side.　

On the side of the coin on the left is a man's head facing left, tendrils of curly hair held in place by a laurel wreath; surrounding the border, the Latin characters: N E R O / C L A V D I V S / C A E S A R / A V G / G E R /P M / T R / P / I M P / P / P. The other side of the coin depicts a large ornamental arch structure, with four columns and decorated with various statues, a wreath hangs across front; above, a man facing in a four-horse drawn vehicle; escorted right, by a winged woman holding a wreath, another female figure standing left; just below, two soldier figures; below, between the two columns left, a male figure standing, holding a spear and shield. On either side of the arch, the Latin characters: S / C.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1942.176.124
People
Nero, Roman (r. 54 - 68 CE)
Title
Sestertius of Nero, Rome
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
62-68 CE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Rome (Latium)
Period
Roman Imperial period, Early
Culture
Roman Imperial
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/196815

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Bronze
Metal
AE
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
27.02 g
Die Axis
6
Denomination
sestertius
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Obverse Inscription: NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GER PM TR P IMP P P
  • Reverse Inscription: S C

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
RIC I 2, 148 p. 161; BMC 188-189

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, The George Davis Chase Collection of Roman Coins, Gift of George Davis Chase, Professor of Classics and Dean of Graduate Study at the University of Maine
Accession Year
1942
Object Number
1942.176.124
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obverse: Laureate head of Nero l.; around.
Reverse: Triumphal arch, hung with wreath across front and l. side; above, the emperor in facing quadriga escorted on r. by Victory holding wreath and palm and on l. by Pax holding caduceus and cornucopiae; just below the quadriga on extreme l. and r., two small figures of soldiers; on l. side of arch in niche, figure of Mars standing facing, r. hand holding spear, l. round shield; ornamental reliefs on the faces and plinths of the arch.

Publication History

  • Ethan Lasser, ed., The Philosophy Chamber: Art and Science in Harvard’s Teaching Cabinet, 1766–1820, exh. cat., Harvard Art Museums (Cambridge, MA, 2017), p. 127, Plate 63 (contents of cabinet); p. 128, Plate 64b; p. 196, Fig. 5 in Whitney Barlow Robles's "Flatness"

Exhibition History

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu