In July AD 64, a massive fire devastated large portions of Rome, which Emperor Nero blamed on the city's Christians. To demonstrate his response, Nero imposed severe punishments on the alleged arsonists and introduced a fire code to prevent or mitigate future fires.

Simultaneously, he acquired much of the newly cleared land to build a grand palace complex, the Domus Aurea ("Golden House"). At its entrance, Nero commissioned the architect Zenodorus to construct a colossal statue of himself, standing about 120 feet tall, which became known as the Colossus Neronis ("Colossus of Nero").

Following Nero's suicide in 68 and the turbulent Year of the Four Emperors, Emperor Vespasian relocated the statue near the site where he and his son Titus were building the Flavian Amphitheater, financed by the spoils from the Jewish War.

Due to its proximity to Nero’s Colossus statue, the amphitheater eventually became known as the Colosseum. The reverse side of this coin shows the colossal statue of Nero as it appeared during the construction of the Domus Aurea, portraying the emperor with a radiate crown, likely alluding to the Colossus of Rhodes, which depicted Helios, the Greek sun-god.

The Colossus of Nero remained standing into the seventh century where it was eventually toppled by an earthquake.

The distinctive toning on this coin shows that it was part of the Boscoreale Hoard. It was buried under the ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 69AD until it was found near Pompeii during the excavation in 1895.

NERO. 54-68, Aureus. 64-68. NERO CAESAR Laureate head right. Rv: AVGVSTVS GERMANICVS Nero stands facing, dressed in a toga and wearing a radiant crown. He holds a branch and Victoria on a globe.
C. 44. RIC 46. Calico 402. 7.34g, St. 6 h.

Ex H.P. Smith Esq, Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, June 5, 1905 lot 405; Sotheby Wilkinson & Hodge, December 6, 1907 lot 111; Dr Eugen Merzbacher Munchen Novenber, 2, 1909 lot 1204; Dr Jacob Hirsch Auction 33, November 17, 1913, lot 1144; Robert Ball Nachf Auction 6, February 9, 1932 lot 1037; Ex. Kunker 117 Sept 28, 2006, lot 5040; Ex UBS 72, 2007, Los Nr. 209 (Numismatic Objects of Virtue)