Nero, 54-68. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 36mm, 27.25 g 6), Lugdunum, 65. NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P Laureate head of Nero to right with globe at the point of the bust. Rev. PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT / S - C Temple of Janus with ornate roof decoration, latticed window on the left and with a garland hung across the closed double doors to the right. BNC 319. BN 73. Cohen 146. RIC 438. WCN 419. A splendid example with a golden-tan patina, a fine portrait and a fine representation of the Temple of Janus. About extremely fine.

From the collection of the MoneyMuseum in Zürich, ex Numismatica Ars Classica 21, 17 May 2001, 389, from the collections of W. Niggeler, 3, Bank Leu & Münzen und Medaillen, 2 November 1967, 1128, Sir Arthur J. Evans, Ars Classica XVII, 3 October 1934, 1278 and A. Niess, Hirsch XXXI, 6 May 1912, 1136.

This remarkably attractive coin has been in collections for well over one hundred years: a testimony to its interest and allure. By 1903, when the Gnecchi brothers cited him, Albert Niess of Braunschweig was famous for the quality of his Roman collection; Sir Arthur Evans, so well known for his archaeological excavations at Knossos in Crete, was also a passionate collector of ancient coins, a love he inherited from his father, Sir John Evans; and Walter Niggeler, of Baden in Switzerland, was a erudite scholar-businessman who built up one of the best collections of his generation.