Aelius. Caesar, AD 136-138. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 30.20 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Hadrian, AD 137. VF.

CNG Feature Auction 132
Lot: 785. Estimated: $ 1 000

Roman Imperial, Bronze, Coin-in-Hand Video

Sold For $ 2 750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Aelius. Caesar, AD 136-138. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 30.20 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Hadrian, AD 137. Bare head right / Concordia seated left, holding patera and resting arm on cornucopia set on ground. RIC II.3 2650; Banti 3. Dark brown patina, light smoothing, earthen deposits. VF. Portrait of artistic merit. Struck on a heavy flan.

Ex John Wright Collection; Berk BBS 138 (1 June 2004), lot 441.

Aelius Caesar began life as Lucius Ceionius Commodus, son of a distinguished senator. Handsome and affable, Lucius entered public service in his 20s and rose steadily until he attracted the attention of the Emperor Hadrian, who by the early AD 130s was searching for a suitable heir. In 136, Aelius was formally adopted by Hadrian and took the name Lucius Aelius Caesar, marking him out as successor to the throne. This beautifully engraved sestertius depicts Aelius with a luxuriant head of curls and a longer beard than Hadrian’s, setting the style for the Antonine rulers that followed.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session Three – Lot 588-888 will be held Tuesday morning, 19 May 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM 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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