65AD-66AD Aureus – Nero

65AD 66AD Aureus Gold Nero Obverse

The 65AD-66AD Aureus - Nero

Gold Aureus of Emperor Nero, struck at the Rome Mint around 65-66AD. Weighs about 7.29g.

The gold Aureus was the standard gold coin in Ancient Rome. The word literally means 'golden denarius' and was equal to 25 denarii or 100 sestertii. It's about the weight of a modern gold sovereign.

The Obverse shows the laureate head of Emperor Nero facing right. Legend is "NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS".

The Reverse of this Aureus shows the god Salus. Salus is seated left on an ornate throne, holding patera (a small bowl) in extended right hand. The text "SALVS" in the exergue. Salus was the Roman goddess of safety and well-being/welfare/health/prosperity for both the individual and the state.

This Gold Aureus coin is graded as near EF.

Image credit: CNG Coins


Mintage: Not known
Minted at Roman Mint.
Nero (Emperor 54AD-68AD)
Classification: Roman Emperor, Roman Imperial, Julio-Claudian Dynasty

Nero [NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVGVSTVS GERMANICVS] was the fifth Emperor of Rome, reigning from 13 October 54 (when aged only 16) until 9 June 68. He was born on 15 December 37 and committed suicide, aged 30, in 68.

Nero's reign was famous for his tyranny, religious persecution and debauchery. Despite this he was said to be popular with the lower class Roman citizens, although not so much with the richer people who were increasingly taxed to fund Nero's extravagances.

Regnal name Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus.
Category: Roman
The Roman Empire was one of the largest Empires in history, covering most of Europe, Britain, parts of Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. It was in existence from 27BC to 476AD, more than 500 years. And all these places used Roman coins throughout the era.

Originally coins were minted only in Rome, but by the third Century there were mints in other countries too. These mints sometimes produced more than 2 million coins per month to meet demand. Coins typically depicted the Emperor on one side and some other image or letters on the other. During the Empire, more than 10,000 different types of coins were created using copper, silver and gold.

Roman coins are usually classified as:

- Roman Republican Coins (about 300BC - 27BC)
- Roman Imperial Coins (27BC - 96AD)
- Roman Imperial Coins (96AD - 235AD)
- Roman Imperial Coins (235AD - 476AD)
- Roman Provincial Coins

The Denarius was the standard Roman silver coin and there were a range of others. As a guide, in the early republic (after 211BC) there was the Sestertius (=4 denarii), Dupondius (=5), As (=10, a tenner), Semis (=20), Quincunx (=24), Triens (=30), Quadrans (=40), Uncia (=120) and Solidus (=1000, it was gold). Values fluctuated later due to debasement and inflation.

The standard gold coin was the Aureus and was equal to 25 denarii or 100 sestertii. It's not far off the weight of a modern gold sovereign. The Aureus was introduced by Julius Caesar around 49BC and was the principal gold coin until about the 4th century when it was replaced by the gold Solidus.

The great part of this is that you can put together a really nice Roman coin collection with very little money, as many coins (although not all) are common and inexpensive. The coins are the best part of 2000 years old and are exciting to collect.

For more information see our articles:
Which Mint: Roman Mint
The origins of the Rome mint are from the manufacture of a silver coin near to the Temple of Juno Moneta back in 269BC. Juno was the personification of money.

Due to the size of the Roman Empire, Rome could not produce all the coins needed and Roman mints were set up in 27 locations, and there were more than 600 provincial mints scattered about the Empire. During overseas campaigns, Generals such as Caesar and Marc Anthony would mint their own coins to pay their armies.

Mint marks were used on the coins to differentiate the mint of manufacture.
Country of Origin: Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ran from 27BC to 476AD and was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome. It covered a large territory of Europe, Northern Africa, and Western Asia. It was ruled by an Emperor.
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