Posted on 09/16/2016 8:35:08 AM PDT by NRx
An exceptionally rare gold coin emblazoned with the face of the Roman Emperor Nero dating back to around A.D. 60 has been discovered by archaeologists working on excavations on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.
The coin, which archaeologists say most likely came from a Jewish home, was found in the ruins of wealthy villas from the first century A.D. and according to the archaeologist Shimon Gibson "belonged to the priestly and aristocratic quarter located in the Upper City of Jerusalem".
Gibson, who is an adjunct professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and part of the team carrying out the excavations, said: "The coin is exceptional because this is the first time that a coin of this kind has turned up in Jerusalem in a scientific dig. Coins of this type are usually only found in private collections, where we don't have clear evidence as to place of origin."
Emperor Nero ruled from A.D. 54 to 68, and is renowned for his persecution of Christians. The coin shows his face in profile, surrounded by the inscription "NERO CAESAR AVG IMP."
On the back of the coin there is an oak wreath and the inscriptions "EX S C" and "PONTIF MAX TR P III."
According to archaeologists, these inscriptions date the coin's creation to either A.D. 56 or A.D. 57.
(Excerpt) Read more at christiantoday.com ...
Very cool!
For some unknown reason, nobody is allowed to see the reverse of the coin. I’ve searched the web for days without success.
TR P = tribunicia potestas or tribunician power...held by reigning emperors and sometimes by their intended successors. Claudius died on October 13, 54, so Nero's third year of tribunician power would have run from Oct. 56 to Oct. 57.
Maybe it shows his “marriage” to Sporus. ;)
There was a joke going around Rome after he did that, that said it would have been better for Rome if Nero’s father had taken that sort of wife.
“AVG IMP”
Yes, I guess he was your average imp.
A few hundred years from now, someone will find a rare gold coin with Hitlery’s face on it.
The accompanying story will be something like: “Hillary Clinton, first Empress of the The American Empire. Known for playing her fiddle while DC burned and an accomplished murderer. Also known to be equal to the Earth God.
This example sold for only $1,010.10 in 2004.
“AVG” probably mean “August” and “IMP” likely stands for “Imperator”..
You sure that’s not bernie sanders? :)
No, Obama is much closer to Nero; Narcissistic, head-strong and demanding and selfish (but equally foolish and ignorant), distracted by pleasures and “wine and song” (no women for Obola!), and sinking the nation into the “bread and circuses” of entertainment and diversion.
For pure corruption? Hillary by a mile.
For evil and intent? Obola, by a little bit.
For venality and lack of serious intent, lack of morals? Bill.
"Nero Caesar, Average Imp"? I would think he was much worse.
OK, serious question: how much would such a coin have been worth in its day? The article doesn't say, except that it would have been "extremely valuable," which is a given.
P.S. Why is it that every time I open a web link from FR, one of the ads on the page is anti-Trump? You'd think their systems could discern that spending money on such ads posted to someone coming from FR would be a waste.
An image search for “reverse nero coin” returns multiple gold coin images that match the reverse description of a wreath, ex sc, etc.
Absolutely Fascinating!
I was referring to a reverse image for the specific coin. Not the type.
Actually, I think he is much closer to Commodus: the "real" Commodus, not the caricatures in either The Fall of the Roman Empire or the more recent Gladiator.
He even, IIRC, replaced Nero's bust at the Colosseum with his own--and he was left-handed, which is a coincidence but also something in common.
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