Aelius? Who? Before I bought this coin for the kingly sum of $40 USD, I had never heard of this name. Why would I ever pay so much for someone I never knew about? Beats me. I guess the bidding war got to my head. After the purchase, turns out that coins of Aelius are actually rather expensive, so I think I got a decent deal overall. I'm especially stoked on how clear the L AELIVS is on the left of the portrait, especially considering that most of the legend on both sides is worn away. Turns out, Lucius Aelius was a rather important guy, so much so that Hadrian adopted and appointed him as successor. Unfortunately, Aelius died before Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius ruled in his stead. Aelius is also known as being the father of Lucius Verus, someone I am just a bit more familiar with, and who is known to me as being who's hard to tell apart from Marcus Aurelius on coins. This is an As, RIC 1071v. I was initially drawn to this coin as having the longest exergue text I've ever seen - PANNONIA. Previously, my longest exergue was VRB*ROM on a small bronze of Julian II. It's definitely got one of the most cluttered reverse texts I have, with a surrounding legend, S-C across fields, and a stupid long exergue. ^^Anybody know why PANNONIA is in the exergue instead of...somewhere else...
Aelius is one of the pricier personalities on second century coins. The Antonine period was one of prosperity and coins circulated for decades. Coins of Aelius and the Antonines, particularly the bronze denominations that participated in the most transactions, are usually well-worn. Here's a typical Aelius AE: Verus is the one who looks like Bob Ross.
Nice coin @hotwheelsearl ! Aelius is definitely one of the lesser known members of the second century. Here is my Aelius denarius which I am very fond of. Aelius: The Emperor Who Wasn’t Roman Empire Aelius as Caesar (AD 136-138) AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck AD 137 Dia.: 17 mm Wt.: 3.24 g Obv.: L AELIVS CAESAR Bare head right Rev.: TR POT COS II Felicitas standing left holding caduceus and cornucopia Ref.: RIC II 430 (Hadrian) Scarce Ex Pars Sale 3, lot 357 (Oct. 2019), Ex Numismatik Naumann 75, lot 643 (Mar. 2019), Formerly slabbed by NGC
Very nice! I have a pretty rough sestertius of this particular party animal.. I do like the ghost-like images of Fortuna and Spes ..obviously disapproving of his lifestyle ..
Hi All, Aelius is also the only one whose Alexandrian coinage uses the Roman system of dating on the reverses, but in Greek of course: ΔHM•Є - ΞOY - YΠAT• (= TR POT COS II). This coin was from Antioch Associates, who apparently got it from Frank D Arnold (CA, USA) in April 1993 (their ticket included). Refs: Emmett-1353.ud; Geissen-1272 var: Rev legend arrangement; Dattari-2078; : M-1556 - Broucheion
Nice! And it isn't the "traditional" Spes reverse, so that's a bit more special! And like RC said, they are often well used. Aelius as Caesar, AE As Struck by Hadrian in 137 AD, Rome Mint Obverse: L AELIVS CAESAR, Bust of Lucius Aelius Caesar, bare head right. Reverse: TR POT COS II, Spes, draped, advancing left, holding up flower in right hand and raising skirt with left, S-C across field. References: RIC II (Hadrian) 1067 Size: 26.5 mm, 9.23 g
Nice catch, and yes he is the scarce one of the 'good emperors'. Even though he didn't live long enough to become emperor, one can add this guys when building a 'good emperor' set.
Mine is not perfect either, but the eroded spots on the obverse that made it affordable do not ruin the nice portrait, so it will be a keeper. L AELIVS CAESAR - Bare head of Aelius right TR POT COS II SC - Spes advancing left, holding flower and lifting drapery of dress behind Sestertius, Rome mint, 137 A.D. 31,37 mm / 25,87 gr RIC 1055, BMCRE 1914, Cohen 56, Sear 3986, Banti 33 (34 specimens) The Sestertii of Aelius are certainly not common. They seemingly only made up a mere 2,5 % of the Sestertii struck during the age of Hadrian, if we take into account the Guelma hoard which included just 7 specimens of his next to 263 Sestertii of Hadrian, 16 of Sabina, and 2 of Antoninus Pius as Caesar.
AELIUS AE As OBVERSE: L AELIVS CAESAR - Bare head right REVERSE: PANNO-NIA S-C across field, TR POT COS II, Pannonia standing right, head left, holding vexillum in right hand and pulling swath of drapery across legs with left hand Struck at Rome, 137 AD 23.5g, 30mm RIC 1071 (Hadrian), S 1217
Finding a pristine example of his may be tough and pricey. Well done for the price. I only have a denarius of his Aelius, Denarius - Rome mint, AD 137 L AELIVS CAESAR, bare head right TR POT COS II, Spes standing left holding flower and lifting skirt 3.25 gr Ref : Cohen # 55, RCV # 3977 Q
A large provincial: AELIUS, Caesar. 137 AD. Philippopolis, Thrace. (Æ 33; 21.34 gm) Obv: Λ AIΛIOC KAICAP, cuirassed bust of Aelius, r., bare head, with paludamentum seen from rear. Rev. (ΦIΛIΠΠOΠO) - LEITΩN, Female figure wearing polos standing l., holding patera in r. hand and poppy and two ears of corn in l. hand; on l., river-god (Hebrus) reclining. BMC__ ; SNG Cop.__; Moushmov__; Varbanov 643; RPC III, 753.