L. Aelius Caesar - Another off my 'bucket list'

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Topcat7, Nov 11, 2017.

  1. Topcat7

    Topcat7 Still Learning

    I can now cross this one off my 'bucket list'.

    (According to ‘Armstrong Economics’ (part of) Aelius’ story goes thus - )

    In 136 AD, Hadrian was in failing health and chose that moment to select his successor. Hadrian chose Lucius Ceionius Commodus and upon his adoption, his name was changed to Lucius Aelius Caesar. Aelius was the son of a powerful senatorial family who came to the attention of Hadrian. Aelius served as consul in 136 AD and was officially adopted by Hadrian as his heir in 137 AD.

    Aelius’ appearance on the coinage of Rome with the title as “Caesar” was certainly a clear indication that Hadrian intended him to be his heir. Aelius was reported to have been strikingly handsome, which may have been one reason Hadrian selected him to be his heir. However, Aelius was also quite popular in Rome.

    Aelius had also been appointed Governor of Pannonia. At the time of his adoption, Hadrian ordered the execution of his own brother-in-law Julius Ursus Servianus and his grandson to prevent them from making any future claims to the throne. He then arranged for Aelius’ daughter Fabia to be married to a young favourite of his named Marcus Aurelius when he was about 16 years old. Hadrian then spent a huge sum of money at the time of Aelius’ adoption, as an accession donative to the Praetorian Guard in order to insure their loyalty and smooth transition of power. While the actual amount of the payment is not known, given the fact that Marcus Aurelius’ donative was 5,000 denarii, it would appear that Hadrian must have paid an amount somewhere between 3,000 and 5,000 denarii per man.

    Unfortunately, Aelius died before Hadrian on January 1st, 138 AD of tuberculosis. Hadrian is said to have complained about paying such a large donative for nothing leaving him in a difficult position with respect to an heir. Hadrian was therefore forced to choose a new heir, Antoninus Pius, an elderly senator who had no son of his own. At the same time, Antoninus adopted Hadrian’s favourite Marcus Aurelius and the son of Aelius Caesar – Lucius Verus. Aelius was buried in Hadrian’s mausoleum known today as the Castle Saint’ Angelo in Rome.


    (Hence, Aelius’ coins can be found under ‘Hadrian’.)

    Aelius. Caesar, AD 136-138. Sestertius Æ 31.2mm., 28.28 g,. Rome mint. Struck AD 137.
    Obv: L AELIVS CAESAR; Bare head right
    Rev; / Fortuna standing right, holding rudder and cornucopia, vis-à-vis Spes standing left, holding flower and raising hem of skirt.
    RIC II Rome 1054; Banti 38. ,
    Rare. Banti records only one example. (Per CNG.)
    Aelius RIC II 1054 (O).jpg Aelius RIC II 1054 (R).jpg

    Please post your coins of 'L. Aelius'.
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2017
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  3. Carausius

    Carausius Brother, can you spare a sestertius?

    ROME. 137 A.D.
    AR Denarius (3.32g; 18mm).
    Obv: L AELIVS CAESAR. Bare head right.
    Rev: TR POT COS II. Pietas facing left, dropping incense over alter.
    RIC 432 (Scarce); RSC 54.
    Ex A. Lynn Collection.

    roman1obv.jpg roman1rev.jpg
     
  4. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Congrats @Topcat7 for knocking one off your Bucket List! Fantastic feeling, and a great coin!

    My only Aelius is an AE:
    RI Aelius Caesar 138 CE AE As 26mm Rome mint Fortuna-Spes cornucopia and rudder.jpg
    RI Aelius Caesar 138 CE AE As 26mm Rome mint Fortuna-Spes cornucopia and rudder
     
  5. Topcat7

    Topcat7 Still Learning

    Not knowing if my bid was going to be successful, I also purchased this coin from a collector friend.

    L. Aelius Caesar, As, Struck 137 A.D., AE 26mm., 11.06 gm.,
    Obv. L AELIVS CAESAR; Bare head of Aelius right
    Rev. TR PO-T COS II, Pannonia holding vexillum and lifting skirt.
    S C in fields with PANNONIA in exergue
    RIC Rome 1071 Var.



    Aelius RIC II 1071v (O).jpg Aelius RIC II 1071v (R).jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2017
  6. Topcat7

    Topcat7 Still Learning

    (Duplicate)
     
  7. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Great coins of Aelius. I don't have one of his yet, another one for the bucket list.
     
  8. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

  9. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Nice, I still need him too.
     
  10. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    It's such a great feeling to cross off a 'Bucket List' coin. Congrats!
     
  11. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Both are nice coins! I would love to have a bronze of him.

    RIC 436a (Hadrian)
    Screen Shot 2017-11-11 at 3.32.33 PM.png
     
  12. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    I only have one Roman as with Salus seated reverse
    rc2030bb1093.jpg

    and one Alexandrian hemidrachm with Homonoia.
    pa0245bb3126.jpg
     
  13. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    I have one like @Andres2 , a sestertius with Spes advancing left. Well-worn, to be sure, but it has a smooth, bottle-green patina:

    Aelius Sestertius.jpg
    Aelius, Caesar AD 136-138
    Roman orichalcum sestertius
    Rome, AD 137
    Obv: L AELIVS CAESAR, bare head, right
    Rev: TR POT COS II, Spes advancing left, holding flower and raising skirt
    Refs: RIC 1055; BMCRE 1914; Cohen 56; RCV 3986; UCR 825.
     
  14. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Congrats on the score and for crossing that one off the list. The double deity reverse is cool. Only Spes on mine.

    DE620B18-9D29-44C5-B75E-C731C2DE4F39.jpeg
     
  15. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    I can't recall who's on the back of this copper As of Hadrian...i'm assuming this is a Hadrian.. boy they sure do favor each other on the coins.. hadrian copper aeas 001.JPG hadrian copper aeas 004.JPG
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2017
  16. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    My only, and worn, Aelius Aelius.jpg
     
  17. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    That must be the PANNONIA reverse type, RIC 1059 (sestertius) or RIC 1071 (dupondius/as).
     
    Topcat7 likes this.
  18. Svarog

    Svarog Well-Known Member

    Great coins everyone, here are my 2 cents: Screen Shot 2017-11-11 at 6.54.25 PM.png IMG_0963.jpg IMG_0964.jpg
     
  19. Julius Germanicus

    Julius Germanicus Well-Known Member

    P2100061.jpg

    L AELIVS CAESAR - Bare head of Aelius right
    TR POT COS II SC - Spes advancing left, holding flower and lifting skirt
    Sestertius, Rome 137
    RIC 1055, BMCRE 1914, Cohen 56, Sear 3986

    P2100062.jpg
     
  20. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    That is a nice bronze of Aelius, Topcat, and it is not a type very often seen.
    Congrats!


    This sestertius of mine has very rough surfaces, but it does have a nice portrait of the emperor:

    Aelius Sestertius Concordia-Obv - 1.jpg Aelius Sestertius Concordia-Rev - 1.jpg
     
  21. Nerva

    Nerva Well-Known Member

    I’m still looking for the right Aelius. Here’s a nice blog post about him, from a collector I follow on Twitter: https://t.co/0HHvHjwRjS
     
    Agricantus and ominus1 like this.
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