Roman Silver & Bronze Coins
Lot 4896 SESSION 14 (4.30pm Thurs 29 July) Roman Silver & Bronze Coins
Estimate $5,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
NERO, (A.D. 54-68), AE sestertius, Rome mint, issued A.D. 64, (25.82 grams), obv. laureate head of Nero to right, around NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P, rev. view of the port of Ostia with pharos (light tower) and ships. In front the reclining river god of the Tiber. Above [AVG - VSTI], below S P Q R OSTC. (S.1953, RIC 178. BMC 132). Very rare and very fine, portrait almost extremely fine.
Julius Caesar recognized the value of expanding Rome's port facilitites at Ostia, but it was Claudius who began actual building it in 42 AD. As part of the construction, one of Caligula's pleasure galleys was scuttled and filled with cement where above it was constructed a lighthouse surmounted by a statue of Neptune. Although the actual date of completion is not certain, it must have occurred shortly before this sestertius was minted in 64 A.D.. A further expansion of the facilities was required under Trajan and Hadrian. By the fourth century, however, the port's importance began to diminish as a result of silting. Soon the region became a breeding ground for malaria and was abandoned.
Estimate / sale price does not include buyer's premium (currently 22% including GST) which is added to hammer price. All bids are executed on the understanding that the Terms & Conditions of sale have been read and accepted. For information on grading and estimates please refer to the Buying at Auction advice.
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Adjacent lots
Lot 4894
GAIUS (CALIGULA), (A.D. 37-41), AE as, Rome mint, issued A.D. 37-38, (10.82 grams), obv. bare ...
Estimate $140
Lot 4895
GERMANICUS, son of Nero Claudius Drusus, brother of Claudius, (born 15 B.C., died A.D. 19), ...
Estimate $150
Lot 4896 This lot
NERO, (A.D. 54-68), AE sestertius, Rome mint, issued A.D. 64, (25.82 grams), obv. laureate head ...
Estimate $5,000
Lot 4897
NERO, (A.D. 54-68), AE as, Lugdunum mint, issued A.D. 67, (11.15 grams), obv. bare head ...
Estimate $750
Lot 4898
VESPASIAN, (A.D. 69-79), AE dupondius, Lugdunum mint, issued A.D. 71, (13.07 grams), obv. radiate head ...
Estimate $150