Heritage World Coin Auctions
CSNS Signature Sale 3107 3-5 May 2023
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Ancients
Aelius (AD 136-138). AE sestertius (32mm, 24.51 gm, 7h). NGC AU 4/5 - 2/5, Fine Style. Rome, AD 137. L AELIVS-CAESAR, bare-headed bust of Aelius right / TR POT-COS II, Concordia seated left, with patera in right hand and resting left elbow seat back, cornucopia set on base; CONCORD in exergue. RIC II.3 (Hadrian) 2650. A superb example stuck from Fine Style dies on a flan with lovely deeply patina.
Lucius Aelius began life as Lucius Ceionius Commodus, son of a distinguished senator and consul. Handsome and affable, Lucius attracted the attention of the Emperor Hadrian, who by the mid AD 130s was aging rapidly and searching for a suitable successor. In AD 136, Hadrian formally adopted Aelius as heir apparent. Historians have long speculated as to why Hadrian chose the seemingly unimpressive Aelius, however, the young man may well have been far more competent than chroniclers of the time allowed. In any case, his elevation was duly celebrated with games and coinage bearing the portrait and titles of Aelius. He left for Pannonia in AD 137 to gain administrative experience; however, the climate was hard on his already frail constitution, and he returned to Rome in the winter having contracted tuberculosis. He fell seriously ill on New Year's Eve and died early on January 1, AD 138, prompting Hadrian to remark that he had "leaned against a tottering wall." Aelius's son, Lucius Verus, eventually became co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-aelius-ad-136-138-ae-sestertius-32mm-2451-gm-7h-ngc-au-4-5-2-5-fine-style/a/3107-31190.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3107-05032023
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Aelius (AD 136-138). AE sestertius (32mm, 24.51 gm, 7h). NGC AU 4/5 - 2/5, Fine Style. Rome, AD 137. L AELIVS-CAESAR, bare-headed bust of Aelius right / TR POT-COS II, Concordia seated left, with patera in right hand and resting left elbow seat back, cornucopia set on base; CONCORD in exergue. RIC II.3 (Hadrian) 2650. A superb example stuck from Fine Style dies on a flan with lovely deeply patina.
Lucius Aelius began life as Lucius Ceionius Commodus, son of a distinguished senator and consul. Handsome and affable, Lucius attracted the attention of the Emperor Hadrian, who by the mid AD 130s was aging rapidly and searching for a suitable successor. In AD 136, Hadrian formally adopted Aelius as heir apparent. Historians have long speculated as to why Hadrian chose the seemingly unimpressive Aelius, however, the young man may well have been far more competent than chroniclers of the time allowed. In any case, his elevation was duly celebrated with games and coinage bearing the portrait and titles of Aelius. He left for Pannonia in AD 137 to gain administrative experience; however, the climate was hard on his already frail constitution, and he returned to Rome in the winter having contracted tuberculosis. He fell seriously ill on New Year's Eve and died early on January 1, AD 138, prompting Hadrian to remark that he had "leaned against a tottering wall." Aelius's son, Lucius Verus, eventually became co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-aelius-ad-136-138-ae-sestertius-32mm-2451-gm-7h-ngc-au-4-5-2-5-fine-style/a/3107-31190.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3107-05032023
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved