51 Gallery
June 2017 Auction 9 Jun 2017
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EMPIRE, GOLD AUREUS OF LUCILLA, Rome, ca. AD 164-169, 7.247g, 6h. Calicó 2214. Lightly toned with underlying luster. With an exquisite portrait of enchanting beauty. Choice extremely fine
Unlike many of Lucilla's portraits, this aureus shows us an attractive young woman with a close resemblance to her beautiful mother Faustina. Lucilla's life after being widowed seems not to have been particularly happy. To preclude any chance of a challenge to the succession, Marcus Aurelius arranged her marriage to an elderly senator whom she disliked. Lucilla was later exiled to Capri, where she was executed.
Unlike many of Lucilla's portraits, this aureus shows us an attractive young woman with a close resemblance to her beautiful mother Faustina. Lucilla's life after being widowed seems not to have been particularly happy. To preclude any chance of a challenge to the succession, Marcus Aurelius arranged her marriage to an elderly senator whom she disliked. Lucilla was later exiled to Capri, where she was executed.