Lot 3252

Description

Nero, (A.D. 54-68), AE As, Lugdunum mint, issued A.D. 67, (10.36 grams), obv. laureate head of Nero to left, around [NERO CLA]VDIVS CAES[AR AVG GERM P M TR P], rev. large S C to left and right across, altar with panelled door in front, PROVIDENT below, (cf.S.1789 [Augustus postumous for reverse type, RIC -, cf.C.235, cf.BMC 391 note describes such an example). Slightly off centre on obverse, otherwise fine and extremely rare.

BMC in its discusion within the footnote to another coin No.391 [page 276] comments, that the coin is "quite clearly exceptional, the head is laureate as on the Roman as but the style seems to be clearly Lugdunum". It is a hybrid being "obverse of the reign of Nero, rev. of the reign of Tiberius". Mattingly further notes as "The chief point of interest is that [it] supports the suggestion made in the [BMC] introduction that the `Divus Augustus Pater' coinage had a particular connexion with Gaul". Needless to say the coin is of exceptional importance and rarity and is only known by a poorer example of this type in the Denmark National collection in Copenhagen.