Nero, 54-68. Aureus (Gold, 18 mm, 7.33 g, 5 h), Rome, circa 64-65. NERO CAESAR Laureate head of Nero to right.
Rev. AVGVSTVS GERMANICVS Nero, radiate and togate, standing front, holding branch in his right hand and Victory on globe in his left. BMC 56. Calicó 402. CBN 202. Cohen 44. RIC 46. An attractive piece with a bold and impressive portrait. Very light deposits and with a few minor marks
, otherwise, about extremely fine.
From the collection of Fridolin Schwitter (1903-1969), owner of ‘Graphische Kunstanstalt Schwitter AG’ in Basel.
The reverse of this beautiful aureus of Nero depicts the emperor’s colossal 35-meter-high statue, created by the renowned sculptor Zenodorus whose fame initially stemmed from a colossal statue of Mercury, which he is said to have spent ten years crafting for the Arverni in Gaul. His new 'Colossus of Nero', as the emperor's statue was called in reference to the Colossus of Rhodes, was originally placed in the Domus Aurea. Following Nero's downfall, Vespasian converted it into a representation of the sun god Sol and moved it to the Forum Romanum. In 121, Hadrian relocated it once more, this time positioning it in front of the Flavian Amphitheater, which eventually came to be known as the Colosseum after the statue.
