Lucius Verus, 161-169. Aureus 163-164, Rome. Obv. L VERVS AVG - ARMENIACVS. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev. TR P IIII IMP II COS II. Nike standing next to a shied on a palm tree, on which is inscribed VIC / AVG. RIC 525; Calicó 2177. AU. 7.38 g. Nice AU
Adopted son of Antoninus Pius, Lucius Verus acceded to the throne of the empire in 161 and reigned alongside Marcus Aurelius ten years his elder. In the eyes of the people, Marcus Aurelius was the real emperor: more experienced and direct successor of his father. But he did not abandon his adoptive brother and allows Lucius Verus to assert himself by sharing with him the power of the throne, thus respecting the will of his predecessor.
The first years of their common reign take place calmly, but as always, war interferes with the tranquility of the empire. In 161, the king of the Parthians Vologesis IV took control of the Kingdom of Armenia, a territory repeatedly disputed between Romans and Persians. The defeats suffered by the nearest Roman legions pushed one of the emperors to go in person to recover these lands: Lucius Verus was assigned to it, as his physical condition and military experience giving him the advantage.
After a trip punctuated by recreational stops, Lucius Verus arrived in Antioch in 163 and established his quarters there. It was only at the end of the year 163 that he finally managed to exhaust the Parthians from whose hands he recovered Armenia. He restored it as a Kingdom dependent on the Empire and placing as its leader a Roman consul. Lucius Verus and Marcus-Aurelius took the title of ARMENIACUS to mark their victory.
Continuing their crusade against the Parthians, the co-emperors also took the title of PARTHICUS MAXIMUS after reducing the lands of the Parthians to the only Iranian plateau.
Ex. Tkalec auction, 29 February 2000, lot 282; Ex. NAC auction 39, 16 may 2007, lot 126.