On the death of Antonius Pius 161 A.D, Lucius Verus became co-emperor with his adoptive brother Marcus Aurelius. Marcus was Hadrian's great nephew, while Lucius was his adoptive grandson. It had been pre-arranged by Hadrian that upon Antoninus' death, Lucius should become emperor, but Antoninus Pius preferred Marcus and would have liked to see him rule alone over the empire. Marcus Aurelius', however, intent on seen Hadrian's will honored, arranged for joint rule with between himself and his adoptive brother Lucius Verus, and the senate agreed. Verus thus ruled as co-emperor for 7 years, between 161-169 A.D. Much of the time he was involved in military campaigns in the east (Armenia, Syria and Mesopotamia), as well as long the northern border against the Marcommanen who threatened to invade Italy itself. He died of disease, or possibly a stroke during one of the campaigns. The Historia Augusta was not kind to Lucius Verus, portraying him as weak and prone to luxury whilst at the same time exalting the character and virtues of his adoptive brother. The truth most certainly lies in the middle. This is a sestertius of Lucius Verus from the recent sale of the Lückger Collection. Lucius Verus, Sestertius, Rome, 163-164. Obv: Verus, wreathed bust r. Rev: Mars standing with shield and spear, S-C. S. 226. RIC 1385, 24,91 g. Busts of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus (in background).
Gasp! That's a real eye-popper. Here's what I have, mid-reign: Bronze As Rome mint, A.D. 164-165 Obv: L VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS Rev: LIBERA AVG TR P V IMP II COS II - Liberalitas, standing, facing left, holding abacus and cornucopiae, between S and C RIC (Marcus Aurelius) 1416 24mm, 10.6g.
That's a wonderful coin @Eduard. LUCIUS VERUS AR Denarius OBVERSE: L VERVS AVG ARMENICACVS, laureate head right REVERSE: TR P V IMP II COS II, Mars standing right, holding spear & leaning on shield Struck at Rome, 163-4 AD 3.0g, 16mm RIC 529 (Marcus Aurelius), C 263 LUCIUS VERUS AR Denarius OBVERSE: L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, laureate head right REVERSE: FORT RED TR P VIII IMP V, Fortuna seated left, holding rudder & cornucopiae. COS III in ex. Struck at Rome, Feb to Dec AD 168 2.5g, 19mm RIC 586 (Marcus Aurelius), C 111
Gorgeous coin, @Eduard! I have a couple of Provincials of LV but no Imperials. EGYPT, Alexandria. Lucius Verus year 4, CE 163/4 tetradrachm, 24 mm, 13.51 gm Obv: ΛAVPHΛI OVHPOCCEB; bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust left Rev: Radiate and draped bust of Serapis-Pantheos right, wearing calathus and horn of Ammon; trident behind shoulder; ∆/L in right field Ref: Emmett 2360 (4), R1; Köln 2148; Dattari (Savio) 9420; K&G 39.77 EGYPT, Alexandria. Lucius Verus year 4, CE 163/4 tetradrachm, 24 mm, 13.4 gm Obv: ΛAVPHΛI OVHPOCCEB; bare head right Rev: laureate bust of Zeus right; L-Δ Ref: Emmett 2367 (4), R1
What an excellent acquisition, Eduard... that bust is really outstanding! Here are three issues of Verus that I like very much - one living, one dead, and one provincial. LUCIUS VERUS AE Sestertius. 24.35g, 31.8mm. Rome mint, AD 164. RIC 1379. O: L AVREL VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS, Laureate and cuirassed bust right. R: TR P IIII IMP II COS II, Mars advancing right, holding trophy and transverse spear; S C across field. DIVUS LUCIUS VERUS AR Denarius. 3.64g, 19.7mm. Rome mint, AD 169, Consecration issue struck under Marcus Aurelius. RIC III 596a; BMCRE IV p. 456, 503 and pl. 62.19; C 55. O: DIVVS VERVS, bare head right. R: CONSECRATIO, Eagle standing front, body inclined right, head turned left, stands on bar. Ex A.K. Collection LUCIUS VERUS AR Didrachm. 6.64g, 21.4mm. CAPPADOCIA, Caesarea, AD 161-166 (Cos 2). Metcalf 131d; RPC Online Vol. 4, #7030. O: AYTOKP OYHPOC CEBACTOC, cuirassed bust right, viewed from behind. R: YΠATOC B, Mount Argaeus with two large rocks at its base, left rock decorated with a deer leaping left, right rock with a tree; on summit, Helios standing left, holding globe and long sceptre.
Fantastic bronze, love the portrait. Lucius Verus (161 - 169) AR Denarius O: L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX Laureate head right. R:TR P VII IMP IIII COS III Aequitas standing facing, head left, holding scales and cornucopia. Rome RIC 576 (Aurelius), RSC 297 18.5mm 3.3g Lucius Verus (161 - 169) Caesarea, Cappadocia AR Didrachm O: AYTOKR OYHPOC CEBACTOC Bare-headed and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind. R: YPA TOS B ,Mt. Argaeus surmounted by Helios standing left. Struck 161-166 A.D. (as COS II) Caesarea, Cappadocia Mint 6.3g 20mm Metcalf, Caesarea 131d; Sydenham, Caesarea
@Eduard that is a wonderful Sestertius! Mine are rather pedestrian, but fill my Roman Ruler Portraits... RI Lucius Verus 161-169 CE AE As 24mm Mars w Trophy RI Lucius Verus 161-169 CE AR Denarius Providentia glob cornucopiae RIC 253
Atta-boy, Eduard ... that is a great OP-addition and I absolutely "love" your new marble statues!! (very cool) I only have one example of Lucky-V ... but I love it!! Lucius Verus AE Sestertius 164 AD Diameter: 33 mm Weight: 26.69 grams Obverse: L AVREL VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS, laureate head right Reverse: TR P IIII IMP II COS II S-C, Victory standing right, placing a shield inscribed VIC/AVG in two lines on palm Reference: RIC 1396, Cohen 249 Other: GOOD FINE … Nice portrait
Here is a Commodus, son of Marcus: 33 mm. Sestertius. Struck Jan. - Dec. 9 181. BMC 453, page 772. RIC 310, page 404. TRP VI IMPIIII COS III PP in ex: LIB AVG IIII for his fourth Liberality. An interesting article on Liberalities is in SAN Vol. VI, No. 4 (1974) "Congiaria and Liberalitates" by Carl W. A. Carlson
That's a beauty Eduard! Awesome portrait. Here's a really rough but rare Verus from Corinth and a couple from Elaea and Selge. Achaea. Corinthia, Corinth. Lucius Verus AE26 Melikertes-Palaimon Peloponnesus. Corinthia, Corinth. Obv. bare-headed bust of Lucius Verus wearing cuirass, r. [IMP L AVR VERVS AVG] Rev. Melikertes-Palaimon riding on dolphin, l.; in pine wreath C L I COR. Aeolis, Elaea. Lucius Verus AE16 Obv: LOVKIOC KAICAP, Bare-headed youthful bust r. Rev: ELAI TWN, Kalathos with grain-ears and poppies. Pisidia, Selge. Lucius Verus AE19 Obv: KAI BHROS / Barehead bust of Lucius Verus. Rev: SELGE WN / Winged thunderbolt and bow decorated w. animal heads.
Hadrian originally intended his successor to be Aelius Caesar (on an as above), who predeceased him leaving a young son Lucius Verus - too young to be made emperor. Antoninus Pius agreed to adopt the boy and make him his successor. The boy grew up to be a playboy and probably not the person Hadrian hoped he would be but Pius considered a promise to be sacred so named the most capable Aurelius and the pledged Verus to be the first co-emperors. Verus predeceased Aurelius which may be too bad for history since it could have spared us the tragedy named Commodus. 'What if' is a pointless game for historians but can be fun for authors of historical fiction.
@steve, @Valentinian, @ancientone, those are all great examples and thanks for posting them! Another L. Verus sestertius. Lucius Verus. AD 161-169. Æ Sestertius. Rome mint. Struck AD 164. Obv: Bare head right Rev: Victory standing right, holding trophy; to right, Armenia seated right. RIC III 1409
That is a lovely coin. Many years ago there was a LV sestertius on auction. I looked at it and said, "that's a $1,500 coin". I missed the auction as I was in London at the time buying coins and didnt put in a mail bid. It sold for the exact $1,500 I thought it would. It later sold for $3,500: I am still waiting to add this one to my collection. There are plenty out there (well, this one is a rare bust variety), but few with the eye appeal.
I do agree that one is better than my common and ugly example (the $56 version). I wonder how much of that $3500 is the rare bust type. Not much I suspect. Eye appeal trumps rarity every time.