Lucius Verus, 161-169. Aureus (Gold, 19 mm, 7.12 g, 6 h), Rome, 163. •L•VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Lucius Verus to right, seen from behind.
Rev. TR P III•IMP II COS II / ARMEN Armenia, wearing pointed cap, seated left in attitude of mourning, propping her head on her right hand and holding bow and quiver in her left; behind to right, trophy. BMC 236. Calicó 2103. Cohen -. RIC 499. Fresh and attractive, with an excellent reverse. Minor scratch on the obverse
, otherwise, very fine.
From the collection of an Armenian businessman, acquired before 2021, ex Triton XIX, 5 January 2016, 582.
The reverse of this issue refers to the Parthian campaigns of Lucius Verus, whose generals - most notably Avidius Cassius - repelled a series of Parthian attacks before taking the offensive. In 163, the Roman general, Marcus Statius Priscus, invaded Armenia and captured the capital Artaxata, an event which prompted Lucius Verus to assume the title of Armeniacus and to issue coins showing the defeated Armenia with an attitude of mourning.
