Aelius, Caesar, 136-138. Aureus (Gold, 19 mm, 7.14 g, 6 h), Rome, 137. L•AELIVS CAESAR Bare-headed and draped bust of Aelius to right. Rev. TR POT COS II / PIE-TAS Pietas, veiled, standing right, holding acerrum in her left hand and sprinkling incense over lighted and garlanded altar with her right. BMC -. Calicó 1447 (same obverse die). Cohen 35. RIC 2629. Boldly struck in high relief. Some scrapes and scratches on the reverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.


As both his maternal and paternal ancestors were of consular rank, Aelius was a senator of noblest descent. Born as Lucius Ceionius Commodus, he was adopted by the childless Hadrian in the summer of 136 and declared the heir to the throne. However, the new crown prince was in poor health and he died on 1 January 138, leaving Hadrian without a successor once again. Upon the news of Aelius' passing, the sick and old emperor adopted Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus, who in turn adopted Aelius' son Lucius Aelius Commodus and a nephew of his wife named Marcus Annius Verus. These men would be the three next emperors Antoninus Pius (138-161), Lucius Verus (161-169), and Marcus Aurelius (161-180).