Nice Lucilla Aureus

165, Lot: 258. Estimate $1500. Sold for $3545. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lucilla. Augusta, AD 164-182. AV Aureus (18mm, 6.08 g). Rome mint. Struck AD 161-162. Draped bust right / Venus standing left, holding apple and sceptre. RIC III 783 (Marcus Aurelius). Good VF, edges rounded for jewelry.

Annia Aurelia Galeria Lucilla was one of thirteen children of Marcus Aurelius, of whom only five outlived their father (including, unfortunately, the future emperor Commodus). Lucilla married the co-emperor Lucius Verus in 164, and after his death in 169 was married against her will to Pompeianus, consul and ally of her father. Despite any personal unhappiness, Lucilla became concerned about her brother’s increasing irrationality (and perhaps jealous of her decreasing influence at court) and joined in a conspiracy to assassinate Commodus and replace him with Pompeianus. The attempt failed in 182, and Lucilla and her family were exiled to the island of Capri, where they were quietly executed.