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Nero. AD 54-68. Æ Sestertius (36.5mm, 25.18 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 67. IMP NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM P M TR P XIII P P, laureate bust right, wearing aegis / PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT, S C across field, Temple of Janus with garland hung across closed double doors to left and latticed windows to right. RIC I 354 var. (bust type); WCN 171 var. (same); BMCRE p. 215, note †; BN 429 var. (same); Elkins, Monuments Figure 77. Brown patina, flan flaws, brassy highlights. Near EF. An interesting architectural reverse type with the closed doors of the Temple of Janus, sending the signal to the Roman people that there was no war.
From the Meander Collection. Ex Long Valley River Collection (Roma XX, 29 October 2020), lot 560; Artemide Aste (2 September 2004), lot 156.
The Temple of Janus was one of Rome’s most ancient centers of worship. It was said that Romulus had built it after he made peace with the Sabines, and that it was king Numa who decreed that its doors should be opened during times of war and shut during times of peace. In all of Roman history until the reign of Nero, the temple doors had been shut perhaps five or six times – once under king Numa (who originated the tradition), once at the end of the Second Punic War, three times under Augustus, and, according to Ovid, once under Tiberius.
In AD 65, when peace had been generally established in the Empire, Nero understandably requested the closing of the temple’s doors. He marked the event with great celebrations and trumpeted his policy of peace by issuing a large and impressive series of coins. The inscription on this issue announces “the doors of Janus have been closed after peace has been procured for the Roman People on the land and on the sea.” The doors of the temple probably remained closed for less than a year, being opened again with the onset of strife in Judaea in 68.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 129 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 13-14 May 2025. This lot is in Session Two, which will begin 13 May at 2 PM ET.
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