New Divus Lucius Verus Sestertius

[Julius Germanicus]

DIVVS VERVS - Bare head of Lucius Verus right /

CONSECRATIO - Pyramidal crematorium of four storeys, with base adorned with draperies and three festoons, inward-opening door and four statues on second level, four statues on third and three on fourth level, the apex surmounted by statue of Lucius Verus in facing quadriga

Sestertius, Rome, March-December 169 AD

34,5 mm / 26,69 g / 5 h

RIC 1511 (R2), BMCRE 1366 var., Sear 5208 var., Banti 42 (5 specimens)

According to Sear, the low regard in which Verus, a weak and ineffective partner in the burdens of government,  had been held was reflected in the very limited extent of his posthumous coinage. Nevertheless I like the coin´s large, almost medallic flan made of yellow orichalcum, just before the Sestertii shrank in size and and turned into a reddish copper tone due to the military and economical crises that plagued Marcus Aurelius´ sole reign after Verus´ demise.

Lucius Verus is the first Roman Emperor whose exact date of death is unknown.

I bought this coin as a replacement for my beloved first Sestertius of Lucius Verus featuring a great portrait and superb toning that was sadly among the five of my bronzes that were stolen while handled by USPS earlier this year:

   

Please show your Sestertii of Lucius Verus, dead or alive!

[ambr0zie]

Good sestertius and I hope it will ease the anger about the previous one.

I have the denarius version of your coin

Divus Lucius Verus AD 169. Rome
Denarius AR
18 mm, 2,70 g.
RIC III Marcus Aurelius 596B; RSC 55, BMC 503
Date: AD 169
DIVVS VERVS Head of Lucius Verus, bare, right / CONSECRATIO Funeral pyre in four tiers (ustrina), adorned with statues and garlands, quadriga on top

... and a sestertius, not the best one out there but I didn't refuse it.

Lucius Verus AD 161-169. Rome
Sestertius Æ
32 mm, 20,98 g
AD 163 - AD 164
RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1397, BMC 1116
Obv: L AVREL VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS, head of Lucius Verus, laureate, right / Rev: TR P IIII IMP II COS II S C, Victory, winged, half-draped, standing right, fixing to a palm-tree with left hand shield inscribed VIC AVG

 

 

[hotwheelsearl]

I never knew Verus was divus. So cool. I have yet to get a wedding cake, but my favorite funeral pyre is this atrocity:

[Octavius]

 Sestertius of Lucius Verus with reverse of him with Marcus Aurelius.

[Steppenfool]

13 hours ago, Julius Germanicus said:

 

According to Sear, the low regard in which Verus, a weak and ineffective partner in the burdens of government,  had been held was reflected in the very limited extent of his posthumous 

I'm wondering if you can expand on this. I recently read Lucius Verus and the Roman Defence of the East by MC Bishop and he makes the argument that the denigration of Verus' character is a purposeful exaggeration by the unknown author of the Historia Augusta who uses Versus as the antithesis of the perfect Marcus Aurelius in order to elevate the latter's character. Versus certainly managed the Parthian campaign very admirably, and Marcus seemed to acknowledge Verus' military aptitude in the splitting of duties here. Perhaps Marcus Aurelius stagnation against the Marcomanni is further evidence of Verus' military superiority. Versus was also handpicked by Hadrian to be adopted by Antoninus Pius and had an exceptional father himself. Although not unheard of, I would find it odd for Verus to be weak and ineffectual with all this to be in favour of Verus' abilities. Furthermore Marcus declared him co-emperor immediately after his accession. I don't think he would have been beholden to co-promote a weak partner. 

There's many great emperors whose deification coinage isn't very prevalent or is non existent. Hadrian comes to mind immediately I don't think this is an indication of a person's character, but rather how they were received by the aristocracy. Perhaps Verus' love of partying (which MC Bishop argues did not result in any worse performance in his role as emperor) and lower imperium due to missing out the rank of Caesar (and thus being the "lesser" in the partnership) didn't enamour him with conservative senators. 

Here's my Versus, with Mars to signify his warlike role in the partnership, and with the title of ARMENIACVS, that he acquired for sorting out the meddling Parthians.

Edited November 9, 2022 by Steppenfool

[Marsyas Mike]

A very nice DIVVS VERVS sestertius @Julius Germanicus.   These are posthumous issues of his are indeed hard to find, at least that I can afford on eBay.  

Here's a denarius version of the OP's crematorium "wedding cake" type:

Lucius Verus Denarius Posthumous Issue (Aurelius) (169 A.D.) Rome Mint DIVVS VERVS bare head right / CONSECRATIO, funeral pyre in four tiers, adorned with statues and garlands, quadriga on top. RIC 596B; RSC 58; Sear 5206. (2.90 grams / 18 mm) eBay June 2019  

Here's my only sestertius, very worn, but enough eagle remaining to identify: 

Lucius Verus Æ Sestertius Posthumous Issue (169-170 A.D.) Rome Mint DIVVS [VERVS], bare head right / [CONSECRATIO S]-C, eagle standing right on globe, head turned left. RIC 1509 [Aurelius]; Cohen 56; BMC 1359 (19.58 grams / 28 mm) eBay Nov. 2019

 

[Edessa]

Lucius Verus, AD 161-169. AR Denarius (18mm, 3.42g, 1h). Rome mint, struck AD 165. Obv: L VERVS ΛVG ΛRM PΛRTH MΛX; Laureate head right. Rev: TR P V IMP III COS II; Parthia, draped, wearing breeches to ankles and peaked cap on head, seated right on ground, hands tied behind back; to right, quiver, bow, and shield. Ref: RIC III 540 (Aurelius); MIR 18, 112-14/30; RSC 273; BMCRE 385. Good Very Fine, good metal, strike and detail. Ex Berk, Mar 2000.

[Julius Germanicus]

On 11/9/2022 at 5:48 AM, Octavius said:

 Sestertius of Lucius Verus with reverse of him with Marcus Aurelius.

Congratulations!!! That may be the most desirable Sestertius of Verus that I have ever seen. Practically EF, great style, beautiful Tiber patina (the ultimate bronze tone for me), historic reverse. Puts the best museum pieces to shame, as far as I am concerned. I only have the Marcus Aurelius companion piece (from the Stoecklin collection), which is not half as nice. Compare the naturalistic portrait on your coin the more abstract one on mine... I also wish mine had the same detail on the emperors clasping hands. And that yellow tone. Sniff...

[Limes]

On 11/8/2022 at 9:11 PM, Julius Germanicus said:

I bought this coin as a replacement for my beloved first Sestertius of Lucius Verus featuring a great portrait and superb toning that was sadly among the five of my bronzes that were stolen while handled by USPS earlier this year:

 

still brakes my heart reading this! Glad you found a nice replacement coin. Here is my one sestertius of Verus.

[hotwheelsearl]

I have a few Lucius Verus. This is probably the most unique one, from Dioshieron.

[Octavius]

6 hours ago, Julius Germanicus said:

Congratulations!!! That may be the most desirable Sestertius of Verus that I have ever seen. Practically EF, great style, beautiful Tiber patina (the ultimate bronze tone for me), historic reverse. Puts the best museum pieces to shame, as far as I am concerned. I only have the Marcus Aurelius companion piece (from the Stoecklin collection), which is not half as nice. Compare the naturalistic portrait on your coin the more abstract one on mine... I also wish mine had the same detail on the emperors clasping hands. And that yellow tone. Sniff...

 Thank you very much for your kind words. Here is my equivalent sestertius of Marcus Aurelius. Your sestertius is also very beautiful with that serene , expressive portrait of Marcus.