Roman Silver & Bronze Coins - Imperial - Augustus - J

Lot 4514    SESSION 17 (11.30AM THURSDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER)    Roman Silver & Bronze Coins - Imperial - Augustus - Jul

Estimate $750
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $600

AELIUS, Caesar, (A.D. 136-138), AE As, Rome mint, issued A.D. 137, (11.28 g), obv. bare head of Aelius to right, around L AELIVS CAESAR, rev. around TR POT COS II, Fortuna-Spes standing to left, holding flower and cornucopiae, (S.3991, RIC 1065, BMC 1927, C.64). Dark partination, extremely fine, rare as such.

Ex William C. Boyd Collection from A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London, Auction Sale 42, 26 September 2005 (lot 381), bought from Sotheby's London in 1892.
Aelius' family were of consular rank. He was adopted by the childless Hadrian in the summer of 136. Unfortunately he was in poor health and died soon after on January 1, 138, leaving Hadrian wthout a successor. Hadrian adopted Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus, who then adopted Aelius' son Lucius Aelius Commodus and a nephew of his wife Marcus Annius Verus. They all in turn became the next emperors Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus.