Nero, AD 54-68. As (Orichalcum, 23 mm, 6.83 g, 6 h), Rome, circa 64. NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERMANIC Radiate head of Nero to right. Rev. PONTIF MAX TR POT IMP P P / S - C Apollo Citharoedus advancing right, playing cithara; in exergue, I. BMC 256. CBN 325. Cohen 248. RIC 211. Slightly smoothed and with minor traces of corrosion, otherwise, good very fine.



Nero regarded himself as a great artist, and this bronze as reflects the importance he placed on his artistic pursuits. The obverse bears a remarkable portrait of the young emperor, his radiate bust turned right, notably lacking the elongated and rather ungainly neck seen on earlier Julio-Claudian portraits. The reverse refers to his artistic ambitions through the lyre, here played by Apollo Citharoedus - Apollo the cithara-player - whose instrument was traditionally used to accompany singing. While we can never know whether Nero was truly an accomplished citharist or vocalist, he claimed victory in every major musical competition during his tour of Greece and later, according to legend, ‘fiddled while Rome burned.’ It is therefore not impossible that he possessed genuine artistic talent - although being the most powerful man in the world, with unchecked authority to silence any critic, certainly did nothing to harm his chances of winning.