Watch List notes:

The George W. La Borde Collection of Roman Aurei Part I
THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Nerva, 96 – 98

Aureus 97, AV 7.41 g. IMP NERVA CAES – AVG P M TR POT Laureate head r. Rev. COS III PATER PATRIAE Simpulum, sprinkler, jug and lituus. C 47. BMC 32. RIC 24. CBN 21. Calicó 960 (these dies).
Rare and among the finest specimens known of this extremely difficult issue. A very
realistic portrait of excellent style, well-struck in high relief and centred on
a very large flan. A perfect Fdc


This example is illustrated on the front cover of David R. Sear, Roman Coins and their Values. Volume II: the Accession of Nerva to the overthrow of the Severan dynasty, London 2002.



Provenance
Sir Arthur John Evans (1851-1941) Collection sold by Jacob Hirsch XXX, auction 11 May 1911, lot 953.
Jacob Hirsch's 30th auction in 1911 contained the Greek and Roman coins belongings to the Rev. Percy Barron (Whyteleafe) and to a reknowned English scholar (i.e. Arthur Evans). Considering the rest of Evans's collection, it must be assumed that this aureus comes from his collection rather than Barron's.
Hall Park McCullough (1872-1966) Collection sold by Stack's, auction, New York, 20-22 November 1967, lot 865, estimated USD 850.
Sold by Münzen & Medaillen auction 43, 12/13 November, 1970, lot 326.
Michael L. J. Winckless Collection sold privately by Spink & Son (London), in October 2006.
History is best understood in hindsight, and the Romans of the time could not have known how pivotal an event the murder of Domitian would prove to be. We have since recognised a clean break between the 'Twelve Caesars' and the 'Adoptive' emperors – something that would not have crossed the mind of a Roman living in the transition year of 96. Replacing Domitian was an elderly, childless senator named Marcus Cocceius Nerva, who was descended from a long line of successful lawyers. His reign was not remarkable, but it served as a buffer between the dynastic nature of the previous century and the 'adoptive' character of the era that followed. Nerva's reign was one of moderation and tolerance in comparison with that of his predecessor, and had he been a younger, more energetic man – perhaps with an heir – it is hard to predict how the fate of Rome might have been altered. Instead, it more or less continued along its militant and expansionist path throughout the reign of Trajan, only to be briefly curtailed under Hadrian, and restored out of necessity by later emperors.