Obverse: IMP. NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS. Laureate
head to the right.
Reverse: IVPPITER CVSTOS. Jupiter seated left,
holding a sceptre and thunderbolt.
Born at Antium in 37 AD, Nero was later adopted
by the Emperor Claudius in 50 AD. Succeeding to
the throne in 54 AD, he soon became notorious
for his excesses. He was very enthusiastic about
art and sport but his extravagances and vanity
made him unpopular and it was rumoured that
he had started the great fire which destroyed half
of Rome in 64 AD. In 68 AD revolt broke out
simultaneously in Gaul, Spain and Africa, the
Praetorians at Rome deserted him and Nero fled,
later committing suicide.
