Art Institute of Chicago

Tetradrachm (Coin) Portraying Emperor Nero

Roman, minted in Alexandria, Egypt

Date

67-68

Medium

Billon

Culture

Egypt

Department

Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays a bust of Emperor Nero, facing left, wearing a cuirass (military cloak). The date this coin was struck is indicated in the inscription " LI ∆ " (only the last letter is visible in this example), which means the fourteenth year of Nero's reign, or 67-68 CE. Nero reigned as emperor from 54-68 CE. The back (reverse) depicts the bust of the god Apollo of Actium, facing right, a quiver on his shoulder, and a star before. Nero's fondness of music and the arts is demonstrated in this imperial type showing the god of these themes, Apollo.

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