| Heritage Auctions Europe / MPO Auctions > Auction 80 | Auction date: 13 November 2023 |
| Lot number: 3745 Price realized: 160 EUR (Approx. 171 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Roman Imperial Coinage - Marcus Antonius - Restitution for Marcus Antonius by Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus - AR Denarius (Rome AD 161-169, 3.40g) - ANTONIVS AVGVR Galley to left, III VIR RPC below / ANTONINVS ET VERVS AVG REST LEG VI Two standards, aquila in between (RIC 443 / BMC 501) - VF, a rare coin. The Legionary Denarii of Marcus Antonius stood model for this issue. Starting price: 75 EUR |  |
Match 1:
| 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 2:
| Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles > Auction 137 | Auction date: 29 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 1280 Price realized: Unsold | |
| Lot description: Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. AE Medallion (40 mm, 51.08 g), AD 161-180 and 161-169 respectively. Rome, AD 161-165. IMP ANTONINVS AVG COS III IMP VERVS AVG COS II, confronted bare-headed busts of Marcus Aurelius right and Lucius Verus left, both with slight drapery. Reverse: Jupiter, half-nude and draped to the waist, seated facing on a high-backed throne, holding a thunderbolt in his right hand and a long scepter in his left; on his left, Juno seated facing holding short scepter with her left hand and offering a patera to Jupiter with her right; on his right, Minerva seated facing, holding scepter with her left hand and raising her right to adjust her helmet. Gnecchi II 7, pl. 71, 5; MIR 18, 1009-2/12-22; Banti 7. Extremely Rare. NGC grade Ch VF; Strike: 5/5, Surface: 2/5. Fine style, smoothing. Estimated Value $7,500 - UP The Roman gods, Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, made up the Capitoline Triad whose temple, the Capitolium, and center of worship was based on the Capitoline Hill. The triad, although appearing only infrequently on Roman coinage, played a central role within Roman religion as it consisted of the king and queen of Olympus, as well as the goddess of wisdom. This medallion, which was struck under the joint Antonine emperors, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, was probably distributed to high dignitaries perhaps attending celebrations for the triad. Ex Nomos 23 (30 November 2021), 224. |  |
Match 3:
| 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 4:
| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 146 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 2343 Price realized: To Be Posted | |
| Lot description: Antoninus Pius augustus, 138 – 161. Aureus 149, AV 20 mm, 7.08 g. ANTONINVS AVG – PIVS P P TRP XII Laureate head r. Rev. TEMPORVM FELICITAS Crossed cornucopiae surmounted by busts of little boy and girl; below, COS IIII. C 811. BMC 678. RIC 185a. Calicó 1631. Very rare. A bold portrait and an interesting reverse type, almost invisible marks, otherwise extremely fine When Antonininus Pius was selected by Hadrian as his successor in 138 it was due to his maturity, experience, and fine personal qualities. The author of Pius' biography in the Historia Augusta paints the picture of a model citizen and idyllic leader, who was universally praised for his dutifulness, clemency, intelligence, and purity. These were just the qualities Hadrian sought in someone who would act as steward not only for the nation, but also for Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, Hadrian's heirs of choice who at the time of Hadrian's demise were too young to assume the burdens of office. With this 'dynastic' arrangement in place, the birth of twins – a boy and a girl – in 149 to the elder of the heirs, Marcus Aurelius, and his wife Faustina Junior, was a major event. Reconstructing the history of the dozen or more children born to Faustina – more than half of whom died during infancy or childhood – is a difficult task. With this well-known coin type of Pius' twelfth tribunician, however, the twins usually are identified as Aurelius Antoninus and the future empress Lucilla. Aurelius Antoninus either was the firstborn son of the imperial couple or the second, for it is possible that T. Aelius Aurelius had been born first, only to die in infancy. The birth of Aurelius Antoninus and Lucilla is celebrated on this crossed-cornucopias type, a design familiar on ancient coinage. The design was carefully considered: the grape clusters, grain ears and busts of the children that issue forth from the cornucopias celebrate the fecundity of the imperial line. Thus, when news arrived of the boy's death within his first year it was a terrible blow to the imperial family and to a nation that had invested so much hope in a boy who one day might have become emperor. Estimate: 6000 CHF |  |
Match 5:
| Heritage Auctions Europe / MPO Auctions > Auction 80 | Auction date: 13 November 2023 |
| Lot number: 3745 Price realized: 160 EUR (Approx. 171 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Roman Imperial Coinage - Marcus Antonius - Restitution for Marcus Antonius by Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus - AR Denarius (Rome AD 161-169, 3.40g) - ANTONIVS AVGVR Galley to left, III VIR RPC below / ANTONINVS ET VERVS AVG REST LEG VI Two standards, aquila in between (RIC 443 / BMC 501) - VF, a rare coin. The Legionary Denarii of Marcus Antonius stood model for this issue. Starting price: 75 EUR | |
Match 6:
| Kölner Münzkabinett > Auction 121 | Auction date: 12 April 2024 |
| Lot number: 818 Price realized: 280 EUR (Approx. 298 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: RÖMISCHE KAISERZEIT Marcus Aurelius und Lucius Verus, 161-169 n. Chr. AR-Denar 165/166 n. Chr., Restitutionsprägung eines Legionsdenars des Marcus Antonius Rom Vs.: ANTONIVS AVGVR, Galeere n. l., im Abschnitt IIIVIR R P C, Rs.: ANTONINVS ET VERVS AVG REST, Aquila zwischen zwei Standarten, in den Feldern LEG - VI RIC 443; Coh. 83. 3.00 g. ss+/ss erworben von Franz Javorsek auf der Numismata im März 2000 (Sammlernotiz) Estimate: 80 EUR |  |
