COLLECTION OF IMPERIAL AUREI

The son of Senator Lucius Ceionius Commodus, Lucius Aelius married Avidia Plautia, the daughter of Senator Nigrinus. In late 136, Emperor Hadrian adopted him as his son and heir, making him Lucius Aelius Caesar. Consequently, he appeared on coins with this name, along with his position as consul and the tribunicia potestas. However, Aelius died in January 138, before Hadrian, prompting the latter to adopt Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus, a prominent senator and consul, in February. Antoninus then became Titus Aelius Caesar Antoninus, later known as Emperor Antoninus Pius. Hadrian also sought to ensure a smooth succession beyond Antoninus. Therefore, he ordered him to adopt Lucius Verus, the 8-year-old son of the deceased Lucius Aelius Caesar, who then became Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus, and Marcus Annius Verus, the 17-year-old nephew of Antoninus' wife Faustina, who became Marcus Aelius Aurelius Verus, later known as Emperor Marcus Aurelius.