Aelius Caesar (AD 136-138). AE as (25mm, 6h). NGC Fine, light scratches. Rome, AD 137. L AELIVS-CAESAR, bare head of Aelius right / TR•PO-T-COS II, Spes advancing left, flower upward in outstretched right hand, hitching stola with left; S-C across fields. RIC II.3 (Hadrian) 2700. Aelius Caesar began life circa AD 104, as Lucius Ceionius Commodus, son of the distinguished senator by the same name that was consul in the year AD 106. Handsome and affable, Lucius entered public service in his 20s and rose steadily through the ladder of public offices until he attracted the attention of the Emperor Hadrian, who by the mid AD 130s was aging rapidly and searching for a suitable heir. Upon attaining the consulship, in AD 136, Aelius was formally adopted by Hadrian and took the name Lucius Aelius Caesar, clearly marking him out as successor to the throne. Historians have long speculated as to why Hadrian chose the seemingly unimpressive Aelius, some even postulating that he was Hadrian's illegitimate son. In any case, his elevation was duly celebrated with elaborate games and Hadrian even coerced the deaths of two potential rivals, that were accused of plotting a coup. In AD 137, Aelius served another consulship and was granted the tribunician power, making him Hadrian's junior partner in government. He left for Pannonia that year to gain experience managing a province; however, the climate was hard on his already frail constitution, and he returned to Rome in the winter having contracted tuberculosis. He fell seriously ill on New Year's Eve and died early on 1 January AD 138, prompting Hadrian to remark that he had "leaned against a tottering wall." HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

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