Nero AR Tetradrachm, Alexandria, Year 11 AD 64/65, Poppaea Augusta

Nero, Tetradrachm, silver; reign AD 54–68, struck AD 64–65 at Alexandria; 12.83 g; 24.5 mm. Obverse with legend ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑΥ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ ΑΥ, radiate bust of Nero right. Reverse with legend ΠΟΠΠΑΙΑ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ, draped bust of Poppaea right; L IA in right field for regnal year 11 (AD 64/65). Broad flan with most legends clear; dark gray cabinet tone; typical Alexandrian fabric; dies aligned about 12h. Reference: RPC I 5280.

Struck in Nero’s regnal year 11, this Alexandrian tetradrachm illustrates the provincial monetary system of Roman Egypt, which employed Greek legends and dated coinage by regnal year. The piece records Poppaea Sabina as Augusta, a title granted in AD 62, and provides one of the few contemporary numismatic portraits of her issued before her death in AD 65. The type circulated as Egypt’s principal silver denomination within its closed currency system.