Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3061 7-8 Jan 2018
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Nerva (AD 96-98). AV aureus (19mm, 7.59 gm, 5h). NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5. Rome, January AD 98. IMP NERVΛ CΛES ΛVG GERM P M TR P II, laureate head of Nerva right / IMP II COS IIII P P, Aequitas standing facing, head left, holding balance scales in right hand and cradling cornucopia in left arm. RIC --, cf. 44 for type (denarius). Calicó --. BMCRE --. CBN --. Apparently completely unpublished and unique!
Ex CNG 102 (18 May 2016), lot 924 (realized $75,000 hammer).
An elderly senator from a venerable family, Marcus Cocceius Nerva was elected as emperor by the Senate in the aftermath of Domitian's assassination. He had been something of a chameleon during his career, loyally serving Nero and the men who deposed and replaced him with equal fervor. Once raised to the purple, he pledged to end Domitian's treason trials and restore constitutional government. Nerva's reign lasted scarcely 16 months, but proved momentous in that it launched the age of the Adoptive Emperors that followed. All of his coins are regarded as scarce, his gold aurei particularly so, with a few types exceptionally rare. This issue appears to be a unique survival struck during his fourth Consulship (COS IIII), which lasted barely 27 days, from January 1 AD 98 to his death on January 27. A few denarii with the same type and legend were struck in this brief span (RIC 44), but this is the first published example of an aureus with these types and date. Its condition is as remarkable as its rarity, as fully Mint State aurei of this ruler are almost never encountered. Prior to this specimen, Numismatic Guaranty Corporation has graded only six aurei of Nerva, with the highest grading only Choice XF, making this by several steps the finest example yet certified.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 70000-90000 USD
Nerva (AD 96-98). AV aureus (19mm, 7.59 gm, 5h). NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5. Rome, January AD 98. IMP NERVΛ CΛES ΛVG GERM P M TR P II, laureate head of Nerva right / IMP II COS IIII P P, Aequitas standing facing, head left, holding balance scales in right hand and cradling cornucopia in left arm. RIC --, cf. 44 for type (denarius). Calicó --. BMCRE --. CBN --. Apparently completely unpublished and unique!
Ex CNG 102 (18 May 2016), lot 924 (realized $75,000 hammer).
An elderly senator from a venerable family, Marcus Cocceius Nerva was elected as emperor by the Senate in the aftermath of Domitian's assassination. He had been something of a chameleon during his career, loyally serving Nero and the men who deposed and replaced him with equal fervor. Once raised to the purple, he pledged to end Domitian's treason trials and restore constitutional government. Nerva's reign lasted scarcely 16 months, but proved momentous in that it launched the age of the Adoptive Emperors that followed. All of his coins are regarded as scarce, his gold aurei particularly so, with a few types exceptionally rare. This issue appears to be a unique survival struck during his fourth Consulship (COS IIII), which lasted barely 27 days, from January 1 AD 98 to his death on January 27. A few denarii with the same type and legend were struck in this brief span (RIC 44), but this is the first published example of an aureus with these types and date. Its condition is as remarkable as its rarity, as fully Mint State aurei of this ruler are almost never encountered. Prior to this specimen, Numismatic Guaranty Corporation has graded only six aurei of Nerva, with the highest grading only Choice XF, making this by several steps the finest example yet certified.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 70000-90000 USD