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Lucius Verus. AD 161-169. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 22.48 g, 11h). Rome mint. Struck under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, AD 164. Laureate head right / Victory standing right, holding trophy; to right, Armenia seated right in attitude of mourning. RIC III 1410 (Aurelius); MIR 18, 86-16/30; Banti 195. Green and brown patina, small flan flaw on obverse. EF. Sharp portrait.
From the Meander Collection. Ex Roma X (27 September 2015), lot 806.
As with most conflicts between Rome and Parthia, the great Eastern War of AD 161-166 was sparked by events in Armenia, the buffer between the two states. In AD 161, the Parthian king Vologases IV marched into Armenia and evicted its pro-Roman king, replacing him with his kinsman Pacorus. The Roman governor of Cappadocia marched into Armenia with a legion (perhaps the supposed 'lost legion' IX Hispana), but the Parthian general Chosroes surrounded the Romans and slaughtered them to a man, the worst military disaster to befall the Empire in nearly a century. The newly installed co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus responded by raising a massive expeditionary force and sending it east under Verus' titulary command, but in reality directed by the general Avidius Cassius. After many months of preparations, the Romans invaded Armenia in 163, captured the capital of Artaxata and installed Sohaemus, a Roman citizen and Senator, on the throne. The Senate voted both Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius the title of Armeniacus, which Verus bears on this sestertius issued to mark the victory.
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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