Description
| Roman Imperial. Nero (54-69). As, 62-68, Rome mint. | |
| Obverse: | IMP NERO CAESAR AVG GERM. Laureate head right. |
| Reverse: | PACE P R VBIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT. Temple of Janus, with latticed window to left and closed double doors to right with garland hung across. |
| Dimensions: | AE, 10.00 g, 27 mm, 7h. |
| References: | RIC 347; BMC 230; Cohen 171. |
| Condition: | Partially uncleaned, bronze toning, nice details of the reverse. Good fine. |
| Provenance: | From a western German collection, built up over the last 30 years. |
| Comment: | With this coin Nero refers to the temple of Janus. This important temple is attributed to the Roman king Numa Pompilius. The tradition said that the doors had to be opened as long as Rome was at war and were closed when all borders of the empire were at peace.
An Exception was emperor Nero’s lost campaign in Armenia. Although the Roman armed forces were inferior to the Parthians, the people were fooled into a victory and the shrine was then closed. |
