I was looking at my
dupondius of an “angry”
Nero and thought it might be worth a COTD. This is an important coin form me, because it was my first “expensive” purchase – in Sydney over 30 years ago! Up until then all my
ancient coins were “
bargain bin” ants of
Gallienus,
Philip I and
Gordian III, and one rather nice small bronze of
Carthage.
These were all bought at a tiny little
shop (long gone) in a
side street of Wollongong, owned by a lovely old couple that also sold fossils, crystals and second-hand
jewelry. The owners Vince and Marge, seeing the interest I
had in ancients put me in touch with their coin supplier, an important dealer in Sydney. So, a trip to Sydney resulted in this
dupondius. I really do miss friendly and quirky little shops such as the one owned by Vince and Marge.
Had it not existed I would probably never have become a collector and
met a lot of wonderful people that shared my passion for ancient things, including here at
Forum.
Nero AE
dupondius.
IMP NERO CAESAR AVG
P MAX TR P P P, laureate
head left /
SECVRITAS AVGVSTI S-C,
Securitas seated right, resting
arm against back of throne, holding
sceptre; before, lighted and garlanded
altar, against which lighted torch leans.
BMC 342.
Cohen 325,
RIC 519.
Steve
