Aelius, Caesar, 136-138. Aureus (Gold, 19 mm, 7.26 g, 7 h), Rome, 137. L•AELIVS CAESAR Bare head of Aelius to left.
Rev. TRIB POT COS II / CONCORD Concordia seated left, holding patera in her right hand and leaning left on cornucopiae set on throne. BMC 999. Calicó 1445 (
same reverse die). Cohen 12. RIC II 443c. RIC II, Part 3, 2707. Rare. A beautiful and very attractively toned piece with a wonderful portrait. About extremely fine.
From the collection of an Armenian businessman, ex The New York Sale XXXII, 8 January 2014, 21.
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 would be the three next emperors Antoninus Pius (138-161), Lucius Verus (161-169) and Marcus Aurelius (161-180).
