Lucius Verus, 161-169 AD
AR Denarius, Rome 164-65 AD
Obverse: L VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS Bare head of Lucius Verus to right.
Reverse: TR P V IMP II COS II Mars standing right, holding reversed spear with his right hand and resting his left on shield set on ground
Referemce: BMC 376. Cohen 262. RIC 528.
Size: 17 mm. Weight: 3.53 g, 6 h. Well centered and sharply struck. Rough spot on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.
History:
Most of the credit for the Parthian war's success must be ascribed to subordinate generals. The forces that advanced on Osroene were led by M. Claudius Fronto, an Asian provincial of Greek descent who had led I Minervia in Armenia under Priscus. He was probably the first senator in his family.[125] Fronto was consul for 165, probably in honor of the capture of Edessa. Claudius Fronto returned to Italy for his consulship; the governor of Syria, Gnaeus Julius Verus, also returned.[126]Publius Martius Verus had led V Macedonica to the front, and also served under Priscus. Martius Verus was a westerner, whose patria was perhaps Tolosa in Gallia Narbonensis.[127] The most prominent general, however, was C. Avidius Cassius, commander of III Gallica, one of the Syrian legions. Cassius was young senator, the son of Gaius Avidius Heliodorus, a noted orator who was augustal prefect of Egypt from 137 to 142 AD under Hadrian, and wife Junia Cassia Alexandria. Cassius also, with no small sense of self-worth, claimed descent from the Seleucid kings and the Julio-Claudians through his mother Junia Cassia who descended from Julia, daughter and only child of Augustus.[128] Cassius and Martius Verus, still probably in their mid-thirties, took the consulships for 166. After their consulships, they were made governors: Cassius, of Syria; Martius Verus, of Cappadocia.[129]
On the return from the campaign, Lucius was awarded with a triumph; the parade was unusual because it included the two emperors, their sons and unmarried daughters as a big family celebration. Marcus Aurelius' two sons, Commodus five years old and Marcus Annius Verus of three, were elevated to the status of Caesar for the occasion.
Referencia : RCV 5355
Fuente : http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s53...
Colección : III The Adoptive Emperors