Lot 43
Nero (AD 54-68) AV Aureus, Rome, AD 65-66, 7.29g.
Auction: 23 November 2026, 10:30 GMT
Description
NERO CAESAR, laureate head of Nero right. Rev. AVGVSTVS GERMANICVS, Nero (or the Colossus of Nero), radiate and togate, standing facing, holding branch and Victory on globe. (RIC 46; BMC 56-9; Calico 402). Extremely Fine.
This scarce gold aureus of Nero depicts the colossal statue, depicting the emperor as the Sun God, which stood outside of Nero’s notorious Domus Aurea, or ‘Golden House’. Following Nero’s demise, at some point during the Flavian dynasty, the monument was moved (and likely reworked to eradicate Nero’s face). It was placed beside the Flavian Amphitheatre, which became known as the Colosseum, due to the colossal statue which stood next to it.
