Nero. Sestertius

Nero; 54-68 AD, Rome, 64 AD, Sestertius, 25.64g. Paris-281, pl. XLV (same dies). Obv: NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GER IMP TR P IMP P P Bust laureate r. with fold of aegis on front shoulder. Rx: [CO]NG II - DAT - POP on l. and r., S C in exergue, Nero seated r. on curule chair on platform, presiding at his second distribution of money to the Roman people. Although it was only commemorated on the coins from 64 AD on, Nero had distributed his second largesse some years earlier, in 57 AD. The tablet held by the official on the upper right, misnamed a tessera or abacus in the standard catalogues, was actually a board drilled with shallow depressions just large enough to hold one denarius each, which could rapidly be filled with coins and then emptied into the toga of the recipient.