Nomos AG
obolos 14 15 Dec 2019
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LYDIA. Tralles. Nero, 54-68. Tessera (Bronze, 19 mm, 6.96 g), 8 units. [NEPΩN KAICAP] Bare head of Nero to right. Rev. Smoothed surface engraved with III•V (the original coin bears a figure of Athena Alkidemos). For the original coin, see RPC 2656 and SNG von Aulock 3285. Apparently the same obverse die as Lanz 128, 287 and Kölner 107 (2017) 180. Apparently unknown as a numbered tessera. Nearly very fine.
There is no evidence that Nero suffered any serious form of Damnatio Memoriae after his suicide: in fact he was quite popular with many people, especially in the east. It seems quite likely that this coin was deliberately chosen to make a gaming piece, its reverse smoothed off to make a field for an incised number while the portrait was kept deliberately as a decorative element (and we do know that Nero was actually fond of games).
There is no evidence that Nero suffered any serious form of Damnatio Memoriae after his suicide: in fact he was quite popular with many people, especially in the east. It seems quite likely that this coin was deliberately chosen to make a gaming piece, its reverse smoothed off to make a field for an incised number while the portrait was kept deliberately as a decorative element (and we do know that Nero was actually fond of games).