Today we introduce you a gorgeous aureus, from the cabinet of Charles and his mother Joanna, one of the best specimens known, conmemorating the succesfull invasion of Amenia by Lucius Verus, that will be auction in our Floor Auction 50, that will be hold on February 5th, 2020 in Gran Meliá Fénix Hotel in Madrid.
In 161 BC, Lucius Verus is designated as emperor alongside Marcus Aurelius.
The peace that Antoninus Pius had negociated with the partians collapsed. the king of Partia, Vologases IV invaded the Armenian Kingdom which had been a roman state, expelled the king and setteld in an own one.
Two initial attemps to recover the territory of Armenia lead by the Governors of Capadoccia and Syria, weren´t succesfull. Marcus Aurelius took the decision to send his co-emperatos, Lucius Verus, to defend personally the Eastern territories.
This aureus was minted shortly after the succesfull invasion of Amenia and the capture of Artashat in 183 a.C. by M. Statius Priscus, ex-governor of Britannia. The obverse conmemorates this victory and Lucius holds the cognomen of “Armeniacus”, where his contribution to the military matter it´s is question.
