Lot 4675

Description

Nero, (A.D. 54-68), AE sestertius, Lugdunum mint, issued A.D. 65, (26.43 g), obv. laureate head of Nero to left, around [NERO C]LAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P, rev. around PACE P R TERRA MA[RIQ PARTA I]ANVM CL[VSIT], S C across field, temple of Janus with closed doors to right of temple, (cf.S.1958, RIC 439, WCN 420). Dark tone, tooled, some surface pitting, otherwise fine with a good fine portrait, rare with left head.

An important commemorative issue resulting from the successful achievements of the great general Cn. Domitius Corbulo, and the resulting settlement with Parthia over the vexed Armenian question. This occasioned the formal closing of the doors of the temple of Janus in Rome, signifying peace throughout the empire (A.D. 65). The following year Tiridates of Armenia visited Rome and received his royal diadem from the hands of Nero himself.