© Heritage Auctions
© Heritage Auctions
Sestertius - Nero ANNONA AVGVSTI CERES S C; Annona and Ceres
| Bronze | 26.5 g | 35 mm |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Nero (Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus) (54-68) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 62-68 |
| Value | 1 Sestertius = ¼ Denarius |
| Currency | Denarius, Reform of Augustus (27 BC – AD 215) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 26.5 g |
| Diameter | 35 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-06 |
| Numista | N#246603 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Ceres, right, veiled and draped, seated left, holding corn-ears and torch, facing Annona, draped, standing right, right hand resting on hip, left holding cornucopiae; in center, modius on garlanded altar right; behind, ship's stern.
Script: Latin
Lettering: ANNONA AVGVSTI CERES S C
Unabridged legend: Annona Augusti Ceres, Senatus Consultum
Translation: The grain supply of venerable Ceres. Decree of the senate
Comment
Mass varies: 25.25–27.68 g;Diameter varies: 33–37 mm;
Source: Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it features the Roman goddess Annona, who was the personification of the grain supply and the fertility of the land, on one side, and Ceres, the goddess of agriculture and fertility, on the other. This coin was minted during the reign of Emperor Nero, who was known for his extravagance and tyranny, but also for his efforts to improve the Roman economy and infrastructure. The coin's design highlights the importance of agriculture and the grain supply in the Roman Empire, and it is a reminder of the close relationship between the Roman state and the agricultural cycle.
