Latest / Nero: Mad Tyrant or Misunderstood Emperor? — Fexingo History
Nero's Imperial Mint and the Economics of Madness
In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the reign of Nero through the lens of the Roman imperial mint. They explore how Nero's debasement of the denarius — reducing its silver content from about 98% to 93.5% between 64 and 68 CE — was a response to the financial strains of the Great Fire of Rome and his ambitious building projects. The conversation unpacks the role of the mint under the empire, the symbolism of coin portraits and legends, and the practical workings of a mint like the one on the Caelian Hill. They touch on the reform of the gold aureus, the introduction of the new…
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