Edmonton Numismatic Society

Where history comes alive

Edmonton Numismatic Society
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Executive
    • Shows
    • Awards
      • Coin-O-Rama Awards
      • J. Wray Eltom – Memorial Award
      • J. Wray Eltom – Personal Achievements
      • Jerome Remick III Literary Award
      • ENS – Award & Achievements
      • ENS – Volunteer Recognition Program
    • Exonumia
    • Contact Us
  • Shows
  • ENS Monthly Meetings
  • Membership
    • Members Benefits
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
  • The Planchet®
    • The Planchet® – Current
    • The Planchet® – Archived
    • Planchet® Submissions
    • Advertise in the Planchet ®
  • Resources
    • Guide to Coin Collecting
    • Buying, Selling and Appraising
    • “ENS” Supporting Dealer(s)
    • Coin Show & Events Calendar
    • Coin Clubs and Associations
    • Numismatic Articles
    • Numismatic News
    • Numismatic Literature
    • Numismatic Resource Links
  • Members
    • In Memoriam
    • Members’ Portal
      • Meeting Minutes
      • Board Meetings
      • Annual ENS BBQ
      • Numismatic Library

A Denarius of Nero

BEFORE HE BECAME A MONSTER

“A Denarius of Nero”

By: Terry Cheesman

Nero has been for a long time an exemplar of the cruel and corrupt Roman Emperor. This is a title which he does have a valid claim. Though it is unlikely that he set fire to the city of Rome in order to recite heroic poetry, he had certainly murdered his mother, his wife, and numerous other Roman citizens. About the only good thing that Seutonius, the Roman historian can say about him is that he ordered the first massacre of Christians.

Nero was not born to become an Emperor, though he was part of the Imperial family. His mother Agrippina the younger was the sister of Caius otherwise known as Caligula, the third Emperor of Rome. Claudius, the fourth Emperor eventually married Agrippina and adopted the young Nero as his son and thus heir presumptive. This coin a denarius minted from 50 A.D to 54 A.D. celebrates this event.

On the obverse one can see the image of the 13 year old Nero with the legend NERO CLAVD. CAES. DRVSVS GERM. PRINC. IVVENT. Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus Principes Iuventutis. Roughly translated this means The Caesar Nero Prince of Youth. The Claudian family used the names Nero Claudius Drusus as names for their male children. Nero’s grandfather also got the name Germanicus because of his success against German tribsmen along the Rhine. This name was passed down to his children hense its use by Nero. The Prince of youth was a title given to the leader of boys who took part in the Trojan games. From the reign of Augustus the title increasingly began to denote the designated successor to title of Emperor. Later this title was dropped and the name Caesar became the title denoting the successor. The reverse inscription reads SACRED COOPT IN OMH CONL IN SVPRA NVM EX S.C. Sacerdos Cooptatus In Omnia Collegia Supra Numerum. Roughly translated this reads Co-opted as a priest into all the colleges above the usual number. The reverse features the symbol of each of the four most important religious organizations of the Roman state. From the top left we see a simpulum and a lituus. From the bottom left we see a tripod and a patera. The Simpulum or ladle was the symbol of the Ponifices the chief priest of Rome. The Lituus was the symbol of the Augurs who used this staff to study cloud formations so they could foretell the future. The Tripod was the symbol of the Quindecimvirate, a panel of fifteen who oversaw religious affairs. The Patera or sacrifical dish was the symbol of the Septimdecimvirate, a panel of seven who oversay religious banquets.The last part of the reverse legend would read Ex Senatus Consulto. Essentially this means with the authority of the Senate of Rome. In this case the most likely meaning is that the Senate authorized the awarding of these exceptional awards to Nero. In October 54 A.D. The Emperor Claudius was murdered by his wife Agrippina and Nero became Emperor. In 68 A.D., in order to escape a humiliating death he committed suicide.

Previously published in the ENS “The Planchet” Magazine Vol-56 Issue-11

Filed Under: Articles

Like Us On Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget

About the ENS

The Edmonton Numismatic Society

The Edmonton Numismatic Society is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the needs of fellow Numismatists in our local area of Edmonton, Alberta, as well as the rest of Canada and the world!

Become a member

New Membership

Membership with the ENS includes access to all our meetings and shows, as well as a free subscription to our award-winning newsletter, the Planchet!

Coin Show & Events Calendar

Provided here is a list of numismatic (coin) shows for both Canada and the USA, we strive to list all those that we are aware of. If you don't see your show listed, feel free to drop us an email with your show details to have your show listed in our "Coin show & Events Calendar.

Read More...

The Planchet © ~ Mar 2023 Issue

ENS award winning "The Planchet ©" A Numismatic publication offering info on society events, articles on coins, paper money, tokens and medals. In our March 2023 edition... Page 6 - The British Columbia Centennial Dollars// Page 10 - Hiketas and The Young Zeus // Page 19 - My Road to the Bells of Lübeck // Page 30 - Two Gold Staters from the Kingdom of the Bosporus

Read More...

The Planchet © – “ENS” Blog

Check out "The Planchet ©" a messaging blog, This blog has been created to facilitate communication and conversation amongst our ENS members by using the online chat, video conference and image sharing. Within this blogging platform we have included areas for general interest, discussion, buy/sell and wanted. The ENS reserves the right to moderate the content posted on this blog. Feel free to use our “contact us” page to email the ENS and let us know how this works for you!

Click here to create an account and join in...!

Join the ENS!

Sign up to become a member of the Edmonton Numismatic Society and receive a free subscription to our award winning numismatic magazine "The Planchet" is published 7 times a year!

Register Today!

Like Us On Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget

  • About Us
  • Shows
  • ENS Monthly Meetings
  • Membership
  • The Planchet®
  • Resources
  • Members

Search

CONNECT WITH US…

Facebook
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram

Numismatic Articles

  • Canadian Numismatic Resources
  • 2022 ENS Hammered Token
  • A Good Decade for Cent Varieties
  • Le monnayage et les monnaies fautées
  • Pierre Napoléon Breton
Copyright © 2023 Edmonton Numismatic Society
X