Nero, 54-68. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 35 mm, 26.78 g, 6 h), Rome, circa 64-65. NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P Laureate head of Nero to left. Rev. S - C Triumphal arch, showing the front, with a wreath hung across it, surmounted by the emperor in facing quadriga, accompanied by Pax and Victory and flanked by two soldiers; statue of Mars in side niche; the faces and plinths of the arch are ornamented with elaborate reliefs. BMC 188. CBN 292. Cohen 306. RIC 148. WCN 117. A lovely coin with an excellent portrait and a wonderful rendering of Nero's triumphal arch. Minor smoothing, otherwise, about extremely fine.



Though few emperors personally took to the field once in power during the first two centuries of the Roman Empire, this did not prevent the construction of elaborate triumphal arches, a typically Roman architectural feature, since victories won by their generals automatically belonged to the principes. The present arch celebrated Roman 'success' in the Roman-Parthian War of 58-63, fought over Armenia after the Parthians installed Tiridates I, brother of King Vologases I, as Armenian king in 52.

Despite early Roman successes under Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo, including the capture of Artaxata and Tigranokerta, a Parthian counteroffensive forced Corbulo's colleague, Lucius Caesennius Paetus, to surrender, even as victory arches were being erected in Rome (Tac. Ann. 15.18). Corbulo salvaged the situation, and an accord followed: Rome accepted an Arsacid ruler on the Armenian throne, provided he received Rome's blessing. In practice, this arrangement set the stage for continued conflict over the next 160 years, with control of Armenia remaining a major point of contention.