| Astarte S.A. > Web Auction 4 | Auction date: 7 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 189 Price realized: 28 CHF (Approx. 31 USD / 28 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: PHRYGIA. Prymnessus. Pseudo-autonomous. Time of the late reign of Antoninus Pius to Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius co-emperorship, circa 138/47-169. Bronze (AE, 24.70 mm, 7.34 g) IЄPA CVN KΛΗΤΟC Youthful draped bust of the Senate left, wearing long hair. Rev. ΠΡΥΜΝ ΗCCEЄΩΝ Κybele draped seated left, wearing kalanthos, holding patera in the right hand, resting the left arm bent on tympanum, lion emerging to left, raising the right paw. RPC IV.2, 3354 (temporary); von Aulock, Phryg.II, 907-11; BMC 14. Minor scratches on obvese, otherwise, Good Very Fine. Starting price: 20 CHF |  |
Match 1:
| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 28 | Auction date: 9 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 2316 Price realized: 75 CHF (Approx. 85 USD / 79 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: PHRYGIA. Prymnessus. Pseudo-autonomous issue. Triassarion (Orichalcum, 26 mm, 11.08 g, 6 h), time of Marcus Aurelius, 161-180. IЄPA CYNKΛHTOC Draped bust of the Roman Senate to right. Rev. ΠΡVΜΝΗϹϹЄΩΝ Kybele seated to left on throne, holding her right hand above forepart of lion to left and leaning left on tympanon. BMC 11-13. RPC IV.2 online -. Von Aulock, Phrygien II, 895-904. A beautiful coin with very attractive orichalcum highlights. A few scratches on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine. From the collection of Mark Gibbons, Newcastle, and from the collection of G. Plankenhorn (with collector's ticket), Leu Web Auction 24, 3 December 2022, 2067, ex Giessener Münzhandlung 64, 11 October 1993, 192. This issue was dated to the Severan period by von Aulock, but the style reveals the hand of an artist working under Marcus Aurelius (see RPC IV.2 online 1917 = von Aulock, Phrygien II, 1088). Curiously, while RPC IV lists a type with Boulè on the obverse and Dikaiosyne on the reverse as Antonine (RPC IV.2 online 3353, thereby rightly correcting von Aulock), it omitts our coin, even though the two issues are clearly connected and its dies were crafted by the same artist. Starting price: 50 CHF |  |
Match 2:
| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 144 with CNG & NGSA | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 1094 Price realized: 26,000 CHF (Approx. 28,739 USD / 26,695 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: The Geoffrey Cope Collection of Ancient Greek and Roman Bronzes. The Roman Empire. Marcus Aurelius augustus, 161 – 180. Description Sestertius, Roma 170-171, Æ 31 mm, 28.57 g. IMP M ANTONINVS – AVG TR P XXV Laureate head r., with drapery on shoulders. Rev. PRIMI / DECEN / NALES / COS III / S C within wreath. Reference C 497 var. (cuirassed) BMC 1398 (cuirassed) RIC 1007 Condition A coin in an exceptional state of preservation. A superb portrait and a wonderful untouched enamel-like green patina. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc Provenance NAC sale 52, 2009, 463 Note: During the 22 years when Marcus Aurelius held the rank of Caesar, he was cared for by his mother, Domitia Lucilla, who was the sister in law of Antoninus Pius and Faustina I. For this reason, he studied under the finest tutors and, nerveless, she devoted herself to prepare her son's succession. Without doubt, she was involved in solving her son's early matrimonial issues. However, the pivotal event of Marcus Aurelius' reign as Caesar was his marriage in 145 to Faustina Junior, the daughter of the emperor Antoninus Pius. This event secured his co-emperorship with his father-in-law, and by 147, when Faustina II was hailed Augusta, his succession to the throne was certain. In 161 Antoninus Pius died and Marcus Aurelius was hailed co-emperor along with Lucius Verus. After an age of relative peace and prosperity under Hadrian and Antoninus Pius the nation braced for war. Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus immediate tasks were not to draft legislation with the senate or to engage in charitable deeds, but to lead their legions to the great river boundaries and defend their empire. Lucius Verus went to the East to guard against the Parthians and Marcus Aurelius marched northward to the long frontier defined by the Rhine and the Danube. Marcus Aurelius was to spend much of his life as emperor waging unwanted wars on the frontiers, which sometimes required leading his soldiers deep into German territory on dangerous expeditions. Lucius Verus suffered a fatal stroke in 169 when and Marcus Aurelius was now sole emperor. Estimate: 20000 CHF |  |
Match 3:
| Roma Numismatics Ltd > Auction XXX | Auction date: 21 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 461 Price realized: 14,000 GBP (Approx. 17,735 USD / 16,329 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Lucius Verus AV Aureus. Rome, AD 165. L VERVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right / TR P V IMP III COS II, emperor on horseback to right, spearing fallen enemy below. RIC III 544 (Aurelius); C. 275; BMCRE 391; Biaggi 964; Calicó 2184. 7.29g, 19mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; an attractive portrait in high relief, with beautiful reddish tone around the devices. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica - Jesús Vico S.A, Auction 119, 6 October 2020, lot 126 (hammer: CHF 20,000); Previously privately purchased from Lopez in 1977. Lucius Verus, co-emperor with his better-known adoptive brother Marcus Aurelius from 161 until his death from disease in AD 169, was the eldest son of Lucius Aelius Caesar, Hadrian's first intended heir who died in AD 138. Verus was adopted by Antoninus Pius alongside Marcus Aurelius and thus eventually became one of the first co-rulers of the Roman Empire, a system for the division of responsibilities which became more commonplace towards the end of the second century. Their partnership was cemented by Lucius Verus' marriage to Marcus Aurelius' daughter in AD 164. Verus' portrait follows the Antonine mode with a long face, tightly curled hair and pointed beard, emphasising continuity between emperors and a united front with Marcus Aurelius through visual likeness even though there was no biological dynastic link. He is portrayed cuirassed, which by the time of Hadrian had become the dominant costume of imperial portraiture, emphasising the emperor's role in ensuring military security throughout the empire. Verus indeed spent much of his reign shoring up the eastern boundaries of the Roman Empire. The obverse and reverse legends denote the titles with which he was honoured: Armeniacus (ARM) in AD 163 after the capture of the Armenian capital Artaxata, and Parthicus Maximus (PARTH MAX) after the invasion of Mesopotamia in AD 165, which led to his acclamation as imperator by the army for the third time. The rare reverse type of this attractive aureus is particularly arresting: an image of the emperor on horseback, the horse rearing as he spears a fallen enemy below. The group is dynamic, the horse's tail and Lucius Verus' cloak emphasising decisive movement. Such images of the emperor mounted in combat had come into favour during the reign of Trajan; this type bears a striking similarity to the heroic image of the un-helmeted emperor on horseback trampling a fallen barbarian below, his cloak billowing out behind him, used extensively on Trajan's coinage as well on the Great Trajanic Frieze (c.117-120), which was later reused to decorate the Arch of Constantine. This image of the emperor as a military figure looked back beyond the Julio-Claudian preference for static imperial images which emphasised religious piety and civic authority to the Hellenistic taste for heroic representation and strong gestural poses. This reverse type of Lucius Verus emphasises personal charisma and military success, but belies the truth: the successes attributed to the emperor, for which he received so many titles, were all due to his experienced generals - Verus himself is not believed to have ever seen active combat. Estimate: 15000 GBP |  |
Match 4:
| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 187 | Silver | Auction date: 10 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 128 Price realized: 280 EUR (Approx. 302 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ionia. Miletos. Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus AD 165-166. P. Ail. Protoleon Themistokleous, magistrate Bronze Æ 39 mm, 22,49 g [ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ] Μ ΑΥΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙΝΟC ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ [ ΑΥΡ ΚOΜΜOΔOC], confronted busts of Marcus Aurelius right laureate, draped and cuirassed and Lucius Verus left laureate, draped and cuirassed; c/m / ΕΠΙ [ΑΙΛ ΠΡΩΤΟΛΕΟΝ]ΤΟC ΤΟ Β [ΜΙ]ΛΗ[CΙΩΝ], Leto advancing, l., head, r., carrying her two children (Apollo and Artemis). Nearly Very Fine RPC IV.2, 1076 (temporary). Ex Hollschek Collection Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus were Roman emperors who co-ruled the Roman Empire during a significant period. Marcus Aurelius, born in AD 121, became emperor in AD 161 and ruled until his death in AD 180. He is best known for his philosophical work "Meditations" and is considered one of the "Five Good Emperors" of Rome. Marcus Aurelius faced challenges, including wars on the Roman frontiers, especially against Germanic tribes and the Parthian Empire. Lucius Verus, born in AD 130, was adopted by Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius's predecessor. Lucius became co-emperor with Marcus Aurelius in AD 161, marking the beginning of a joint rule. Their co-rule continued until Lucius Verus's death in AD 169. Lucius faced the Roman Empire's first major pandemic, the Antonine Plague, which had far-reaching consequences. The co-rule of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus is often referred to as the "Marcus Aurelius and Verus" period. They faced military challenges, notably the Parthian War and conflicts with Germanic tribes. Marcus Aurelius continued to rule alone after Lucius Verus's death until his own death in AD 180. Despite the difficulties they faced, Marcus Aurelius is especially remembered for his stoic philosophy and leadership during challenging times. Starting price: 50 EUR |  |
Match 5:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3115 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 31085 Price realized: To Be Posted | |
| Lot description: Ancients Lucius Verus, as Augustus (AD 161-169). AV aureus (19mm, 7.32 gm, 5h). NGC MS 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. Rome, summer-December 166. L VERVS AVG ARM-PARTH MAX, laureate, cuirassed bust of Lucius Verus right, seen from behind / TR P VI•IMP IIII COS II, Victory standing facing, head right, nude to waist, placing shield on palm tree to right, shield inscribed with VIC / PAR. Calicó 2190, same obverse die; reverse die of 2088. RIC III (Marcus Aurelius) 564. BMCRE (Aurelius) 430 note. Faces of Power 349 (this coin). This coin published in H. Gitler & G. Gambash, Faces of Power: Roman Gold Coins from the Victor A. Adda Collection (Jerusalem, 2017). Marvelous portrait with exquisite artistry and detail, flowlines beaming upward from crown of head like an aureole of light. Ex Roma Numismatics, Auction XXV (22 September 2022), lot 1039; Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 119, 6 October 2020, lot 127; Victor A. Adda Collection, Christie's Highly Important Ancient Coins, 9 October 1984, lot 85. Born Lucius Ceionius Commodus, Lucius Verus was the son of Aelius Caesar, the favored heir of Emperor Hadrian. Aelius's premature demise in AD 138 thrust Lucius into the uncertainty of imperial succession. Hadrian instead chose to adopt Antoninus Pius as his replacement, a seasoned senator who agreed to ascend to the throne on the condition of a more hereditarily adoptive line of succession by naming both Lucius--the son of Hadrian's initial choice as heir--and Hadrian's great-nephew Marcus Aurelius as his heirs. Following the death of Antoninus Pius in 161, the Senate planned to confirm Marcus alone, but he insisted on Lucius's elevation to Augustus. Lucius would take on Marcus' family name, "Verus". Their co-reign forged an unprecedented partnership at the zenith of Roman power, amidst the distant thunder of Parthian aggression. Lucius, with the mantle of military leadership thrust upon him, embarked on a campaign to repel the eastern threat. His notorious affair with a low-born mistress caused Marcus to fast-track Lucius' marriage to his thirteen-year-old niece, Lucilla, in 163. Although Lucius spent the duration of the war living a life of luxury and licentiousness in Asia Minor, the success of his generals in reconquering the Armenian capital at Artaxata and sacking the Parthian capital at Csetiphon earned him a triumph in 166 and two new titles-Armeniacus and Parthicus Maximus. Yet these victories also sowed the seeds of catastrophe. As the Roman legions returned, they brought back with them an epidemic that would ravage the Empire-the Antonine Plague. Returning from the Germanic front in 169, Lucius succumbed to the merciless grip of smallpox, a victim of the very plague his victories had unwittingly unleashed. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-lucius-verus-as-augustus-ad-161-169-av-aureus-19mm-732-gm-5h-ngc-ms-5-5-4-5-fine-style/a/3115-31085.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3115-05082024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Estimate: 8000-10000 USD |  |
