Lucius Sets Out

CNG 111, Lot: 728. Estimate $7500. Sold for $7500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lucius Verus. AD 161-169. AV Aureus (19mm, 7.25 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 162. RIC III 480 var. (bust only cuirassed); MIR 18, 40-12/17; Calicó 2145 (same dies as illustration); BMCRE 200 note, pl. 57, 3 (same rev. die); Biaggi –; Jameson –; Mazzini –. Near EF, lustrous outer fields. Listed in Calicó as S5 (very scarce) but appears to be much rarer than that, with no other examples in CoinArchives.

This reverse type depicts Lucius Verus setting out for war against the Parthians. He appears to be holding a transverse spear, but it lacks a point and may therefore be a hasta pura, a blunted spear given as an award for saving the life of a fellow citizen.