RPC I, 2628

 

Image of specimen #1

 

Coin type
Volume I
Number 2628
Province Asia
Subprovince Conventus of Ephesus
Region Ionia
City Ephesus
Reign Nero
Person (obv.) Nero (Augustus)
Dating AD 65/6
Obverse inscription ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ
Obverse design laureate head of Nero, right
Reverse inscription ΝΕΟΚΟΡΩΝ, ΕΦΕΣΙΩΝ
Reverse design temple with six columns; to left and right, bee
Metal leaded bronze
Average diameter 22 mm
Axis 12
Reference Karwiese 75
Specimens 1 (1 in the core collections)
Note Although the rest of the inscription is illegible, the types and style make it seem very likely that this coin belongs with the other Neronian issues. E. F. Vink suggests that the prominent bees symbolize the temple of Artemis. At the same time, they might just be symbols of Ephesus. However, if we accept the idea that bees = temple of Artemis (the bee was sacred to Artemis), then all the temples on this group of coins are more likely to be the same temple, hence Artemis. But it is actually quite possible that a temple of Nero might in fact be the temple of Artemis with an image of Nero added.
Correction Corrected coin-type (post publication)

Specimens of this coin type

Number Number Museum Bibliography
1 1     ✸ L: 1973,0501.4