Aelius AE As or Dupondius Rome 137

Roman bronze coin struck under Emperor Hadrian in 137 AD at Rome, issued in the name of Caesar Aelius. The obverse depicts the bare head of Aelius facing right, while the reverse shows Spes, the personification of Hope, holding a flower and raising her skirt.

Lucius Ceionius Commodus, later known as Aelius Caesar, was adopted by Hadrian in 136 AD as his designated heir. His sudden elevation surprised many contemporaries, as he was relatively unknown and considered of fragile health. The imagery of Spes on the reverse symbolized the hope for continuity and stability of the imperial succession. However, Aelius died prematurely in early 138 AD, before he could succeed to the throne, leading Hadrian to adopt Antoninus Pius as his new heir. This coin therefore reflects a brief and poignant moment in the politics of imperial succession at the end of Hadrian’s reign.”**