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Orbis Collectibles

RIC I (second edition) Nero 178

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

RIC I (second edition) Nero 178. Denomination: Sestertius. Authority: Nero. Mint: Rome. The obverse shows head of Nero, laureate, right, with aegis on neck, with the legend NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P.

The reverse shows view of the harbor at Ostia; Statue of Neptune set on pharos, above; Tiber reclining left, below, with the legend AVGVSTI S POR OST C.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
9
Catalogue references
1

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Nero, born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, was the final Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from AD 54 until his suicide in AD 68. Adopted by Emperor Claudius, Nero ascended the throne with the support of the Senate and Praetorian Guard. His governance concentrated practically on trade, diplomacy, and culture, while his lavish public entertainments were financed directly by local elites or through taxation.

Struck at Rome, this bronze sestertius features an obverse portrait of the emperor with the legend "NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P". During the Roman Empire, the denomination served as a large coin useful for commerce, originally valued at two and a half asses or one quarter of a denarius. The reverse bears the inscription "AVGVSTI S POR OST C" alongside a detailed depiction of the harbour at Ostia, showing a statue of Neptune positioned on a pharos above and the river god Tiber reclining below.

Physical characteristics

Material
Bronze
Denomination
Sestertius

Technical characteristics

Mint
Rome
Authority
Nero

Design

Obverse
Head of Nero, laureate, right, with aegis on neck
Reverse
View of the harbor at Ostia; Statue of Neptune set on pharos, above; Tiber reclining left, below
Obverse legend
NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P
Reverse legend
AVGVSTI S POR OST C

Identification

Type reference
RIC I (second edition) Nero 178
Denomination and metal
Sestertius, Bronze
Obverse legend to match
NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P
Reverse legend to match
AVGVSTI S POR OST C
Source note
Type description from the American Numismatic Society's Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE); individual specimens differ in die, flan size, weight and wear, and legend breaks may vary.

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Research required
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Varieties

  • RIC I (second edition) Nero 179

    Near-identical catalogue variant (same obverse and reverse legends, type and denomination, differing only in minor marks or bust detail); consolidated into this entry.

Research required

  • Editorial verification required.
  • Weight, diameter and mint marks require specimen-level evidence.
  • Museum specimen photographs are linked by the source; local photographs and reuse rights remain unverified.
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