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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Topcat7, post: 2904809, member: 73372&quot;]I can now cross this one off my &#039;bucket list&#039;.</p><p><br /></p><p>(According to ‘Armstrong Economics’ (part of) Aelius’ story goes thus - )</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>(Hence, Aelius’ coins can be found under ‘Hadrian’.)</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Aelius. </b>Caesar, AD 136-138. Sestertius Æ 31.2mm., 28.28 g,. Rome mint. Struck AD 137.</p><p>Obv: L AELIVS CAESAR; Bare head right</p><p>Rev; / Fortuna standing right, holding rudder and cornucopia, vis-à-vis Spes standing left, holding flower and raising hem of skirt.</p><p>RIC II Rome 1054; Banti 38. ,</p><p>Rare. Banti records only one example. (Per CNG.)</p><p>[ATTACH=full]700465[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]700466[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Please post your coins of &#039;L. Aelius&#039;.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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