How to Identify the Aureus of Nero
A guide to Nero's gold aureus, covering his changing portrait style, common reverse types, and the mid-reign weight reduction that also affected this top-value Roman gold coin.
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What This Coin Is
The gold aureus struck under Nero, who reigned from AD 54 to 68, was Rome's highest-value regular coin, worth 25 silver denarii, and was produced alongside the more common denarius using matching design programs.
Obverse Design
The obverse shows a laureate or bare head of Nero facing right, with a portrait evolving from a youthful appearance early in the reign to the heavier, fuller-necked style seen in his later years. The legend generally reads NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS, with title variations tracking his reign.
Reverse Design
Reverse types mirror contemporary denarius issues, including Jupiter, Salus, Roma seated on a cuirass, and a wreath enclosing EX SC. Some early issues pair Nero with Agrippina Minor in facing or jugate portraits.
Size, Weight, and Metal
Struck in high-purity gold, the aureus was affected by Nero's AD 64 reform just like the denarius, with weight reduced from an earlier standard of roughly 7.7-7.8 grams to a lighter post-reform weight. Diameter typically runs around 18-19mm.
Mint Marks and Attribution
Predominantly struck at Rome without a distinct mint abbreviation, attribution to the pre- or post-reform period relies on weight and the specific title combination in the legend rather than any mint mark.
Telling It Apart From Similar Coins
Gold's warm color and high density are the fastest way to separate this coin from a silver denarius of similar design. Compare Nero's heavier, fleshier later portrait against the leaner Julio-Claudian style of Claudius or Tiberius aurei to help date an example within his reign.
Grading at a Glance
Since gold does not tone, judge condition mainly by strike sharpness on the portrait's hair and the reverse figure's detail, along with handling marks like scratches or edge bumps. Well-centered, sharply struck examples are notably more desirable.
Authenticity Red Flags
Check for any area where a different, non-gold metal shows through wear or a scratch, which would indicate gilding over a base-metal fake. Confirm the weight matches the appropriate pre- or post-reform standard, and be alert to overly soft or doughy details suggesting a cast rather than struck origin.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Nero aureus relate to the Nero denarius?
They were typically issued with matching designs and titles at the same time, differing mainly in that the aureus is gold and worth 25 times as much as the silver denarius.
Did Nero's gold coinage change in AD 64 like his silver did?
Yes, the same reform that reduced the denarius's weight and fineness also lowered the aureus's weight standard, so pre- and post-reform aurei can be distinguished largely by careful weighing.
How can I be sure a Nero aureus isn't a gold-plated fake?
Examine any wear points, scratches, or edge nicks closely for a color change revealing a different metal underneath, and verify the weight closely matches the known genuine standard for the issue period.
Should the surface look tarnished on a genuine example?
No, because gold does not corrode or tone, a well-preserved genuine aureus typically retains a bright, warm luster even after two thousand years.