Roman Empire, Nero, Sestertius
66 - Lugdunum - Bronze - AU(50-53)
PLEASE NOTE: this collector's item is unique. We therefore cannot guarantee its availability over time and recommend that you do not delay too long in completing your purchase if you are interested.
Laureate bust right of Nero, small globe at point of the bust.
Annona Augusti standing left, holding cornucopia in the left hand, facing Ceres seated right in a throne, head veiled, holding torch in the left hand and grain ears in the right hand. Between them, modius set on garlanded altar; in background, ship's stern
A magnificent and very rare example of a sestertius of Nero depicting the Annona, struck at the Lyon mint. Struck on a wide, well-centered flan, the details, particularly Nero’s hair, are remarkably well-preserved, despite slight wear on the high points. The piece is further enhanced by a magnificent dark patina. The Annona service was established by Augustus to ensure a steady supply of grain to Rome, drawing upon the vast granaries of North Africa and Egypt. Administered by equestrian magistrates serving the emperor, the service managed everything from procurement to the distribution of grain to the city's poorest citizens—a population numbering nearly one million. For the emperor, this was primarily a means of demonstrating generosity to bolster his popularity and preventing the hunger-driven riots that had occurred during the reigns of Claudius and Nero. BMC -; CBN -; Cohen 23; RIC 496; WCN 431
IMP NERO CAESAR AVG PONTIF MAX TRIB POT P P
ANNONA AVGVSTI CERES / S C
24.9 gr
Bronze
Bronze (not to be confused with brass, although usage of the two terms varied in times of yore) is an extremely ancient alloy with origins going back to the period around 2,000 BC. Also known...wait for it...as the Bronze Age (who would have guessed?). Back in ancient times, a proportion of 10% tin was added to copper. It was used in particular for luxurious objects such as swords, helmets, hairpins, and even chariot ornaments.
That is by no means insignificant though, as when putting on a bronze helmet you would already find yourself with an extra 3 kilos or so on your head. Add to that your sword and armor…let’s see you advance quickly now!
The heavyweight of alloys one might say*.
The first Western bronze coins probably date back to the end of the 4th century BC and Greece.
Although the coins may be ancient, it is more difficult to date the appearance of a specific word for this alloy. The earliest record is a Venetian manuscript in Greek dating from the 11th century, but it is not impossible that it was in use earlier.
Nowadays, the bronze used in coinage is an alloy of copper (majority) and tin (minority) along with other metals such as zinc, for example, which improves the castability, or nickel, which produces a harder alloy. Its main qualities are undeniably its great resistance to corrosion and mechanical wear as well as...its aesthetic aspect.
The patina of bronze can vary, ranging from verdigris to brown through to black.
*Actually, puns aside, copper and cupronickel have a greater density, for example.
An “AU(50-53)” quality
As in numismatics, it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
About Uncirculated(50-53)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has circulated well from hand to hand and pocket to pocket but the impact on its wear remains limited: the coins displays sharp detailing and little sign of being circulated. The number (50-53) indicates that at least half of the original luster remains. Closer examination with the naked eye reveals minor scratches or nicks.
You might be wondering why there are different ranges of numbers behind the same abbreviation. Well, we’ll explain:
The numbers are subdivisions within a category, showing that the state of conversation is the same but coins may be at the higher or lower end of the scale. In the case of AU, the range (55-58) indicates that the luster is better preserved in than a similar coin described as (50-53).
