I did not have plans to get an Aelius any time soon, but I happen to come across a listing on eBay of a couple of unattributed coins to be identified, while one had a bust resembling Hadrian, the other one looked curious, it had curly hair with a beard, but I know it's not Marcus Aurelius or Septimius Severus, but resembled Lucius Verus, but upon closer inspection I just found out it's Aelius (makes sense as he was the father of Verus). Seller's photo And I just recieved it and briefly soaked it in acetone to remove what looked like verdigris on Spes, and I have to say it really looks good in hand, nice high relief that photos can't show properly, it's one of those coins where at certain angle it really pops up. Ae As L AELIVS CAESAR TR POT COS II S C 10 g Lucius Aelius Caesar, whom Hadrian adopted as his heir but died before Hadrian in 138 AD, thus Antoninus Pius was chosen. Aelius was the father of Lucius Verus, and after Antoninus Pius, Verus and Marcus Aurelius became co-emperors. I really like how smooth the transition was one after the other! Share your Aelius!
That is a very decent Aelius coin. Here is my only coin with his portrait Aelius, as Caesar AD 136-138. Rome Denarius AR 18 mm, 2,80 g RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 2645 Old RIC II Hadrian 434 Obverse Legend: L AELIVS CAESAR Type: Head of Lucius Aelius Caesar, right Reverse Legend: TR POT COS II Type: Salus standing left, holding patera and sceptre; to left, altar with snake coiled around
Nice catch. Mine was from ebay several years ago too and for some reason went unnoticed. Scored for less than $100 at the time. Aelius (136 - 138 A.D.) AR Denarius O: L AELIVS CAESAR, bare head right. R: TR POT COS II, Felicitas standing left, caduceus in left, cornucopia in right. Rome Mint, 137 A.D. 3.16g 18mm SRCV II 3973, RIC II Hadrian 430, RSC II 50, BMCRE III Hadrian 969
Fun and fortunate find, @JayAg47! Spes was a very common reverse type on the coins of Aelius for, as Hadrian's chosen successor, he represented the empire's hope for the future. Here's the sestertius version of your coin. Aelius, Caesar AD 136-138. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 27.19 g, 30.6 mm, 7 h. 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.
My recent 2021 purchase is a sestertius with Concord. L AELIUS CAESAR / TRPOT COS II CONCORD (in ex.) SC 28.70g from Andy Singer, ex. David Baily ex. Nemesis You have seen my Alexandrian hemidrachm before. OMONOIA is Concord. This one is unusual in that it has titles but no year date (for Hadrian) as do most Alexandrian coins. I only have three coins of Aelius. The last and least is an as with Salus seated. For many years this was my only Aelius coin. All Aelius coins seem intent on pointing out he held the important offices TRPOT COS II even though he was not Augustus.
Silver coin (AR Denarius) minted at Rome for AELIUS, as Caesar, in 137 A.D. Obv. L.AELIVS.CAESAR.: bare hd. r. Rev. TR.POT.COS.II.: Pietas stg. l., by altar, raising r. hand and laying l. on breast. RCS #1211. RSCII #53 pg.164. RICII #432 pg.392. DVM #5/3 pg.133. (Caesar. F+ slightly off-center but legends all there, small edge split obv. bottom/rev. top, pleasant light grey tone, nice strong portrait).
An Aelius 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, rarity 9; RPC III, 753.
