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Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus
"Ianus Geminus – Temple of Janus" In the northern part of the Roman Forum, near the Senate house (Curia), stood the Temple of Janus, which tradition holds was built by Numa Pompilius. "It was an ancient gate from the earliest fortifications, preserved for its particular sanctity. Its dark, moss-covered walls, constructed from uneven stone blocks, were clad in bronze plates…" According to legend, during the Sabine attack on Rome, a powerful spring of boiling water erupted from the gate dedicated to Janus, killing many of the attackers.
The gates of the shrine were closed during times of peace and opened during armed conflict, allowing troops departing for war to pass through and receive the god’s blessing. Emperors closed the Gates of the Janus to great fanfare. The most famous closures occurred under Nero and Vespasian. Nero minted a large series of coins with the Ara Pacis (and the Janus itself with closed gates) on the reverse to commemorate this event.
Denomination: As, Æ
Obverse: Laureate head of Nero to right, NERO CAESAR AVG GERM IMP
Reverse: Temple of Janus with latticed window on left and garlanded and closed double doors on right, PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT, S-C
Mint: Rome, 65 A.D.
Weight: 9,32 g
Diameter: 26mm
Provenance: Kölner Münzkabinett, ex Dr. Victor Wishnevsky Collection, ex Hirsch, Auktion 191, 1996
Reference : 5.4 RIC I 300
Collection : IMPERIUM ROMANUM 01 - Julio-Claudian