The coins of Nero bearing the temple of Janus reverse motif are generally accepted to refer to the peace following cessation of Corbulo's campaigns against the Parthians and the installation of Tiridates, Parthian nominee for the throne of Armenia. This type is scarce; it was issued after Nero's assumption of "Imperator" as a praenomen (mid-66 AD) and was probably discontinued when the Jewish war broke out in November 66 A.D., probably causing the doors of the Temple of Janus to be opened again. The Latin word PARTA does not, at least in this case, refer to Parthia. See an excellent description and translation of Nero's Temple of Janus coins.
The monumental triumphal arch seen on several sestertii was erected by Nero to commemorate Roman military campaigns against the Parthians in Mesopotamia and Armenia. Although not particularly successful in a military sense, with Paetus losing almost his entire army at Randeia in Armenia, the war did end with a peace treaty favorable to Rome that was upheld for nearly fifty years. The arch was dismantled after Nero's ignominious end in 68 and is only known through its depiction on the coins. The coins were struck circa AD 66.
See the biography of Nero at De Imperatoribus Romanis, an online encyclopedia of Roman emperors.
Click on coin catalog links to view images:
| Catalog | Denom | Inscription | Reverse Type |
|---|---|---|---|
Nero A.D. 54-68 |
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| RIC 50 RIC 50 BMC 64 Cohen 114 |
aureus | NERO CAESAR AVGVSTVS / PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT | Closed doors of the Temple of Janus |
| BMC 319V RIC 438v WCN 419v |
sestertius | NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P / PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT | Temple of Janus, door r., S C in field |
| BMC 321 RIC 510 WCN 441 |
sestertius | IMP NERO CAESAR AVG PONT MAX TR POT P P / PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT | Temple of Janus, door r., S C in field |
| BMC 163 RIC 324 WCN 165 |
sestertius | IMP NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P P P / PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT | Temple of Janus, door r., S C flanking; also BMC 162, RIC 323, WCN 162 |
| BMC 113 RIC 354 WCN 171 |
sestertius | NERO CAESAR AVG IMP TR POT XIII P P / PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT | Temple of Janus, door l., S C flanking |
| BMC 158 RIC 264 var |
sestertius | NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P / PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT | Temple of Janus, door r., S C in field |
| BMC 164 RIC 270 WCN 140 |
sestertius | NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GER P M IMP P P / PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT / S C | Temple of Janus, door l., S C in field |
| BMC 161 RIC 266 WCN 139 |
sestertius | NERO CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P / PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT | Temple of Janus, door r., S C in field |
| BMC 184 RIC 144 WCN 139 C 307 |
Orichalcum sestertius |
NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P | Triumphal arch (victory over Parthia) surmounted by statue of emperor in quadriga flanked by Victory on left holding wreath and palm; Pax on right holding a caduceus and cornucopia, wreath in archway, nude helmeted statue of Mars in side niche of arch, decorated around with friezes of battle scenes. S C across fields |
| RIC I 433 | AE sestertius | NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P | " |
| BMC 198 RIC 337 WCN 228 |
dupondius | NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P / PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT | Temple of Janus, door r. |
| Cohen 174 | dupondius | NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG / PACE P R VBIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT (bust L) | temple of Janus with closed doors, S C in field (arch R) |
| RIC 349 WCN 295 |
dupondius | IMP NERO CAESAR AVG GERM / PACE P R VBIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT | Temple of Janus, door L, S C in field |
| BMC 203 RIC 341 WCN 232 |
dupondius | IMP NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P / PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT | Temple of Janus, door l., S C in field |
| BMC 204 RIC 342 WCN 236 |
dupondius | IMP NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P / PACE P R VBIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT | Temple of Janus, door l., S C in field; also BMC 162, 163 |
| BMC 202v. RIC 339v. WCN 231v. |
dupondius | IMP NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P P P / PACE P R VBIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT | Temple of Janus, door r., S C in field |
| BMC 225 | dupondius | NERO CAESAR AVG GERM IMP / PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT / S C | Temple of Janus, door r., S C in field |
| BMC 198ff. RIC 337 WCN 228 |
as | NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GER P M TR P IMP P P / PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT | Temple of Janus, door r. |
| RIC1 306 Image |
as | IMP NERO CAESAR AVG GERM / PACE PR VBIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT (obv bust R) | temple of Janus with closed doors, S C in field (arch R) |
| Sear 689 | as | " (bust R) | " (but temple arch to L) |
| BM-231 |
as | " (bust L) | temple of Janus with closed doors (arch R) |
| RIC.304/6 BMC.226/7 WCN.284/8 |
as | NERO CAESAR AVG GERM IMP / PACE P R TERRA MARIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT / S C | Temple of Janus, door l. |
| Sear 690 | as | NERO CLAVD CAESAR AVG GERM PM TR P IMP PP / S C | Victory flying L holding shield inscribed S P Q R |
| BMC 228 RIC 307 WCN 291 |
as | NERO CAESAR AVG GERM IMP / PACE P R VBIQ PARTA IANVM CLVSIT | Temple of Janus, door l., S C in field; also BMC 227, 232 |
| Catalog | Denom | Inscription | Reverse Type |
The images are used by permission of their copyright owners. See the Coins of Rome about Parthia index page for a listing of these generous individuals, dealers and institutions.
This page last updated 23 Feb 2021
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