Aelius Caesar, 136-138. Assarion (Bronze, 20 mm, 4.91 g, 6 h), Bruzus in Phrygia. Λ.ΑΙΛΙ ΚΑΙCΑΡ Bare-headed, bearded and draped bust of Aelius to right. Rev. ΔΗΜΟC ΒΡΟΥΖΗΝΩΝ Laureate head of the youthful Demos of Bruzus to right. Unpublished and unknown, the reverse struck from the same die as Paris 573, illustrated as RPC III 2595 on pl. 117. Apparently unique. With an exceptionally noble and fine portrait of Aelius and a lovely brown patina. About extremely fine.



Hadrian's coinage of Bruzus is actually extremely rare; the RPC recorded just four examples: this is, thus, the fifth known piece, though it is, of course, hitherto unknown. Since this coin's reverse die was used as the obverse die for RPC III 2595, we now can date the magistrate who signed the RPC piece, Rufeinos Drumikos, to late in Hadrian's reign, during the Caesarship of Aelius. Why the obscure city of Bruzus should have produced a coinage with such an artistically superior portrait is unknown.