Watch List notes:

The Roman Empire
Nero augustus, 54 – 68

Sestertius circa 64, Æ 24.76 g. NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P IMP P P Laureate bust r. with aegis. Rev. AVGV – STI / S POR OST C View of port of Ostia, at entrance pharos bearing a statue of Neptune, within harbour, seven ships, including one entering at top l. and one docked being unloaded at l.; below, Tiber reclining holding rudder in r. hand and dolphin in l. C 37 var. (CLAVD). BMC 134. RIC 181. CBN –, cf. 290 (GER). Berk, 100 Greatest Ancient Coins 13 (this coin).
Very rare. A superb specimen of this desirable issue with a bold portrait of excellent
style and an exceptionally well-detailed reverse composition. Perfectly centred
on a large flan and with a wonderful Tiber tone. About extremely fine

Ex Ars Classica 18, 1938, Vicomte. de Sartiges 99; J Schulman 258, 1974, 1589; Sotheby's Zurich 6 October 1977, 119; Leu 52, 1991, 169 and Leu 83, 2002, 726 sales.

This coin is in extremely high relief. It is a plate coin in Harlan Berk's "100 Greatest Ancient Coins". He related to me that he had looked at many pieces for the book and finally came back and settled on the fact mine was the best example he could locate to photograph. As you can see in this sale, I specialized in the coinage of Nero by major type – in all metals. Struck in extremely high relief, this is one of the best portraits on a sestertius in my collection. MSG

As an inland city of more than one million people during the reign of Nero, Rome relied heavily upon its Tyrrhenian Sea port at Ostia. Antioch, the great metropolis in Syria, was similarly positioned, as it was about the same distance (c. 15 miles) from its Mediterranean port at Seleucia. Though essential to major inland cities, ports and harbours were perhaps the most challenging of all engineering projects, and they were very costly to build and to maintain. It comes as no surprise that when great ports were completed, it was cause for celebration. To Romans, such occasions not only affirmed their international renown as engineers, but also represented a new opportunity to reap benefits in transportation, trade, grain supplies and military applications. The construction of a port at Ostia had been considered by both Julius Caesar and Augustus, but the projected expenses were so daunting that it was not until Claudius came to power that construction began; finally, it was finished during the reign of his adoptive son Nero. The port of Ostia is somewhat unique in that it can be visited and toured today in all the glory that it must have been when constructed.