Roman Empire

Lucius Verus, Co-Emperor AD 161-169

RIC 525; BMC 296, note; Calicó 2177 (same dies as illus.), Superb Mint State

Rome, A.D. 163/4. L VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Lucius Verus right. Reverse: TR P IIII IMP II COS II, Victory standing facing, head right, attaching shield inscribed VIC/AVG in two lines to palm tree.

Lucius Verus, the son of Aelius Caesar was adopted by Antoninus Pius in AD 138, at the same time that he adopted Marcus Aurelius, but only the latter was given the title of Caesar. After the death of Pius, Aurelius ruled as Augustus and elevated Verus to become the first full co-emperor with the title of Augustus. Verus waged a successful war against the Parthian Empire in AD 162-166 and celebrated a joint triumph with Marcus Aurelius. In AD 168, the two emperors set out on an offensive against the Germanic peoples threatening the security of the Danube frontier, but decided to return at the beginning of the following year after plague broke out in the camp. On the way back to Rome, Verus suffered a stroke and died. He was subsequently deified as divus Verus.