Aelius. Caesar, AD 136-138. Æ Sestertius (31mm, 27.77 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Hadrian, AD 137. Good VF.

CNG Feature Auction 129
Lot: 529.
Closing Date: May 14 2025 11:00 ET

Roman Imperial, Bronze

Estimate: $ 2 000

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Aelius. Caesar, AD 136-138. Æ Sestertius (31mm, 27.77 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Hadrian, AD 137. Bare head right / Concordia seated left, holding patera and resting arm on cornucopia set on throne. RIC II.3 2650; Banti 2 (this coin cited and illustrated). Appealing dark brown patina, a few minor flan flaws. Good VF.

From the Meander Collection. Ex Distinguished Collection of Roman Bronze Coins (Dix Noonan Webb 139, 15 February 2017), lot 85, purchased from Seaby, March 1938; R. Ratto (8 February 1928), lot 2852; Naville II (12 June 1922), lot 780; J. Hirsch XXXI (6 May 1912), lot 1342.

L. Ceionius Commodus, grandson and son of the consuls of AD 78 and 106, brother of Faustina Senior, was born about AD 104. He was praetor in AD 130, and in AD 136 he celebrated his first consulship. That same year Hadrian adopted L. Ceionius Commodus, who took the name of Lucius Aelius Caesar. On 1 January AD 137, he began his second consulship and it was at this time that he began to participate in the coinage. Unfortunately, Aelius predeceased Hadrian, dying of a massive hemorrhage on New Year's Day AD 138. Hadrian subsequently adopted Antoninus Pius as his new heir, on the condition that Pius likewise adopt Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, the latter being the son of Aelius and Domitia Lucilla.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 129 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 13-14 May 2025. This lot is in Session Two, which will begin 13 May at 2 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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