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| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61635 | Auction date: 28 July 2026 |
| Lot number: 23119 Price realized: 190 USD (Approx. 167 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Divus Lucius Verus (AD 161-169). AE sestertius (28mm, 24.02 gm, 5h). NGC Choice Fine 4/5 - 2/5, scratches. Rome, AD 169. DIVVS-VERVS, bare head of Divus Lucius Verus right / CONSECRATIO, eagle standing right, head reverted, atop globe decorated with stars and bands; S-C flanking globe. RIC III (Marcus Aurelius) 1509. From the Eyeappealing Collection. 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 Ctesiphon 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. www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/divus-lucius-verus-ad-161-169-ae-sestertius-28mm-2402-gm-5h-ngc-choice-fine-4-5-2-5-scratches/p/61635-11071.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61635-07282026 HID02906262019 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Certification number: NGC 4934861006 |  |
Match 1:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61626 | Auction date: 7 June 2026 |
| Lot number: 23145 Price realized: 5,000 USD (Approx. 4,299 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Lucius Verus (AD 161-169). AR denarius (18mm, 3.23 gm, 12h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 5/5. Rome, December AD 161-December AD 162. IMP L AVREL VERVS AVG, bare head of Lucius Verus right / PROV-DEOR TR P II COS II, Providentia standing facing, head left, globe in outstretched right hand, cornucopia cradled in left arm. RIC III (Marcus Aurelius) 482. Bright, reflective dies with marigold toning. 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. www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/lucius-verus-ad-161-169-ar-denarius-18mm-323-gm-12h-ngc-choice-ms-5-5-5-5/p/61626-20011.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61626-06072026 HID02906262019 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Certification number: NGC 6640751001 |  |
Match 2:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61635 | Auction date: 28 July 2026 |
| Lot number: 23110 Price realized: 300 USD (Approx. 264 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Marcus Aurelius, as Caesar (AD 161-180). AE sestertius (29mm, 21.75 gm, 11h). NGC VF 4/5 - 2/5. Rome, AD 145. AVRELIVS CAE-SAR AVG PII F COS II, bare head of Marcus Aurelius right, slight drapery visible on far shoulder / HILA-RI-TAS, Hilaritas standing facing, head left, grounded long palm in right hand, cornucopia cradled in left; S-C across fields. RIC III (Antoninus Pius) 1242a. From the Eyeappealing Collection. Ex Heritage Auctions, Auction 231424 (12 June 2014), lot 61113. Originally given the name Marcus Annius Verus, the future Marcus Aurelius was born in AD 121 into a patrician family of Spanish origin. Gaining the favor of Emperor Hadrian early on, he was educated at the Imperial court and adopted by Antoninus Pius at 17, alongside Lucius Verus, as part of Hadrian's succession plan. Upon Antoninus Pius's ascension to the throne in AD 138, Marcus was elevated to Caesar, marking the start of his prominent role in governance. As emperor, Marcus Aurelius navigated the Roman Empire through numerous military conflicts, including the Marcomannic Wars, and faced a devastating plague that significantly impacted the Roman population. His tenure is notably marked by his Stoic philosophy, as captured in his work "Meditations," which remains influential. Despite the lack of military training, his leadership during these tumultuous times reflected a deep commitment to his duties and philosophical principles. Marcus Aurelius died in AD 180, leaving a legacy as a philosopher-king, revered for his wisdom and the stoic fortitude with which he governed the Roman Empire. www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/marcus-aurelius-as-caesar-ad-161-180-ae-sestertius-29mm-2175-gm-11h-ngc-vf-4-5-2-5/p/61635-11073.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61635-07282026 HID02906262019 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Certification number: NGC 2412818040 |  |
Match 3:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61635 | Auction date: 28 July 2026 |
| Lot number: 23124 Price realized: 130 USD (Approx. 114 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Commodus (AD 177-192). AE sestertius (30mm, 24.87 gm, 5h). NGC VF 4/5 - 3/5. Rome, AD 183. M COMMODVS ANTO-NINVS AVG PIVS, laureate head of Commodus right / SALVS AVG TR P VIII IMP VI COS IIII P P, Salus standing facing, head left, grounded scepter in left hand, feeding serpent wrapped around and rising from altar, from patera in outstretched right hand. RIC III 381. From the Eyeappealing Collection. Ex the RichLyn Collection (Heritage Auctions, Auction 3045, 12 January 2016), lot 32343. The sole reign of Commodus, AD 180-192, is often viewed as the tipping point where the Roman Empire's long decline began. Commodus has thus been featured in novels, plays, and feature films as a villain, most recently in the cinema epics "Fall of the Roman Empire" (1964) and "Gladiator" (2001). Son of the greatly revered "Philosopher Emperor" Marcus Aurelius (AD 161-180), Commodus was the first emperor born "in the purple" in AD 161. Marcus made him co-Augustus in AD 177. He accompanied Marcus on a military campaign against the Germans in AD 178; worn out by his exertions, Marcus died on 17 March AD 180. Freed of his dutiful father's control, Commodus immediately cut a deal with the Germans and abandoned all further plans of military conquest. Returning to Rome, he plunged into sensual pursuits and left governing to a succession of favorites who plundered the public purse and aggrandized themselves. While Commodus continued and worsened the debasement of Roman silver coinage begun by his father, the gold coinage remained of high purity, weight, and artistry. This beautiful aureus, struck early in his sole reign, depicts him as a young man very much in the image of his father. The historians Dio and Herodian both describe him as exceptionally handsome, a picture borne out by his coin portraits and sculpture. The reverse evokes the "Security of the Public" in an uncertain age. www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/commodus-ad-177-192-ae-sestertius-30mm-2487-gm-5h-ngc-vf-4-5-3-5/p/61635-11037.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61635-07282026 HID02906262019 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Certification number: NGC 4246313005 |  |
Match 4:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61636 | Auction date: 10 August 2026 |
| Lot number: 21273 Price realized: 320 USD (Approx. 277 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Titus, as Caesar (AD 79-81). AE as (25mm, 8.02 gm, 6h). NGC Choice Fine 4/5 - 3/5. Rome, ca. AD 77-78. T CAESAR VESPASIANVS TR P COS VI, laureate head of Titus right / VICTORIA - AVGVST, Victory standing on prow, wreath raised in right hand, palm in left, S-C across field. RIC II.1, 1035. From the Eyeappealing Collection Born in AD 41, Flavius Titus Vespasianus, the elder son of Vespasian, initially appeared destined for a life akin to that of an upper middle-class civil servant, following in his father's footsteps. Vespasian had earned acclaim as a general during Claudius' invasion of Britain, and Titus, as he matured, developed into an intelligent, handsome, and charismatic young man, eventually serving as his father's second in command during the Judaean campaign of AD 66-69. Following the collapse of Nero's regime in Rome, Vespasian assumed the throne while Titus took charge of the Judaean war, culminating in the conquest of Jerusalem in AD 70. Upon his triumphant return to Rome, where suspicions of a coup surrounded him, Titus warmly reunited with his father and was honored with a grand triumph. Subsequently, he held the position of Praetorian Prefect and diligently safeguarded his family's political influence. Upon Vespasian's death in AD 79, Titus ascended to the imperial throne, initially raising concerns that he might emulate the excesses of Nero or Caligula. However, he swiftly proved to be an unusually benevolent and compassionate ruler to the Roman populace. Unfortunately, after barely two years in office, Titus died of a fever on 13 September AD 81; he was promptly deified by the Roman Senate and succeeded by his younger brother Domitian. www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/titus-as-caesar-ad-79-81-ae-as-25mm-802-gm-6h-ngc-choice-fine-4-5-3-5/p/61636-11129.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61636-08102026 HID02906262019 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Certification number: NGC 5767603019 |  |
Match 5:
| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61635 | Auction date: 28 July 2026 |
| Lot number: 23117 Price realized: 320 USD (Approx. 281 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Ancients Lucius Verus (AD 161-169). AR denarius (18mm, 2.69 gm, 5h). NGC XF 5/5 - 3/5, brushed. Rome, December AD 163-December AD 164. L VERVS AVG-ARMENIACVS, bare head of Lucius Verus right / TR P IIII-IMP II COS II, Mars standing facing, head right, grounded spear in right hand, left resting on shield. RIC III (Marcus Aurelius) 515. 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 Ctesiphon 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. www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/lucius-verus-ad-161-169-ar-denarius-18mm-269-gm-5h-ngc-xf-5-5-3-5-brushed/p/61635-15003.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61635-07282026 HID02906262019 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved Certification number: NGC 8557769004 |  |
