NERO SILVER DENARIUS – PISONIAN CONSPIRACY ISSUE – CHOICE VF NGC GRADED ROMAN IMPERIAL COIN OF THE 12 CAESARS (Inv. 21116)

$1,450.00

21116. ROMAN EMPIRE. NERO, AD 54–68.
Silver Denarius, 3.47 g, 17 mm. Issue of Rome, AD 66–67.
Obv. IMP NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, laureate head of Nero right. Rev. IVPPITER [CVS]TOS, Jupiter enthroned left, holding thunderbolt and scepter.
RIC I rev, 64.
NGC graded CHOICE VF, Strike 4/5, Surface 3/5.

The mounting senatorial discontent to Nero’s erratic behavior finally erupted in a senatorial plot against his life. This was orchestrated by the prominent senator C. Calpurnius Piso and involved numerous senatorial colleagues and members of the Praetorian Guard. However, on 19 April 65, the so-called Pisonian conspiracy was betrayed by a freedman, and the conspirators were arrested before they could act. In the aftermath, Piso was ordered to commit suicide, 19 of his co-conspirators were executed and another 13 were sent into exile. Nero had obviously escaped a very serious threat and as such, he thanked the gods for saving his life. His gratitude is advertised on the present coin, which was struck after the Pisonian conspiracy was foiled and features Jupiter Custos (“the Guardian”) on the reverse.