Roman Hemidrachm

"Hemidrachm" (plural: hemidrachmae or more commonly hemidrachms) is a silver denomination which (with a Latin inscription) was only issued from Caesarea in Cappodocia by Nero to celebrate the success of Corbulo in Armenia in 58 AD (the date of issue is usually taken as 59- 60). Although Tiberius, Caligula, and Nero all issued Latin-inscription drachms (see drachm) from Caesarea, only Nero issued hemidrachms.  Hemidrachms were one-half of a drachm, and were therefore struck at approximately half of the drachm weight, or about 1.65-1.70 grams. They are about 14 mms in diameter.  There are only three types of hemidrachms with Latin inscriptions known, and all have the reverse motif of Victory, either seated, standing or advancing right (the first two reverses are anepigraphic, the last is inscribed "ARMENIAC"). All have the same obverse inscription "NERO CLAVD DIVI CLAVD F CAESAR AVG GERMANI" with Nero's laureate head right. Hemidrachms from Caesarea were issued by later Emperors, but only Nero's had Latin inscriptions. All varieties are rather rare.