Ancient Roman Coin of Emperor Lucius Verus (Co-Emperor with Marcus Aurelius), NGC Certified

Own a Silver Coin from the Co-Emperor Whose Victory Over Parthia Accidentally Unleashed a Plague on Rome

A real silver denarius of Lucius Verus — struck during Rome's final sustained moment of Antonine prosperity, celebrating the eastern triumph that conquered the Parthian capital yet brought back the epidemic that began the end of the Golden Age. NGC certified.

From $227.50

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⚔️ From the co-emperor who led the Parthian War — capturing Ctesiphon, the Parthian capital, in Rome's greatest eastern triumph in a generation
🏆 Reverse celebrates Victory advancing or Parthian captives subdued — Roman dominance in the Near East proclaimed in high-grade silver
🤲 A silver witness to Rome's last golden generation — the triumph that carried the Antonine Plague back to an empire that would never fully recover

Own This Piece of History

Why This Coin Matters

When Antoninus Pius died in AD 161, he left Rome to two co-emperors for the first time in imperial history — the philosopher Marcus Aurelius and his adopted brother Lucius Verus. The arrangement was deliberately designed to distribute the burden of governance across an empire too large for one man, and it worked — for a while. When Parthia invaded the eastern provinces almost immediately, Verus was dispatched to command the campaign while Marcus Aurelius governed Rome.

The Parthian War of AD 161–166 was a decisive Roman success. Verus's generals — most notably Avidius Cassius — drove deep into Parthian territory, sacked the city of Seleucia, and captured and destroyed Ctesiphon, the Parthian capital. It was one of Rome's most complete eastern victories and it is celebrated on this denarius with exactly the imagery you would expect — Victory advancing, Parthian captives, the visual language of Roman military supremacy at its most confident.

The returning army brought something else with them. The epidemic that broke out as Roman forces marched back through the empire in AD 165–166 — the Antonine Plague, likely smallpox — killed millions across the Mediterranean world over the following two decades, depopulating provinces, straining the military, and beginning the slow deterioration of the internal stability that the Antonine dynasty had so carefully maintained. Lucius Verus himself died in AD 169, possibly from the plague his own victory had introduced. This denarius was struck at the exact hinge point — Rome's last great eastern triumph and the beginning of its long struggle with the consequences. Encapsulated by NGC.

Perfect for:

• Collectors of Antonine dynasty, joint reign, and Roman imperial silver denarii
• History lovers drawn to Lucius Verus, the Parthian War, and the Antonine Plague
• Victory type, Parthian captive reverse, and NGC certified Roman silver enthusiasts
• Anyone seeking a historically pivotal piece from Rome's final golden generation

What You'll Receive

• One authentic Roman silver denarius of Lucius Verus
• Denomination: AR Denarius (high-grade Roman silver, widely circulated)
• NGC certified for authenticity and preservation
• Struck AD 161–169 — similar to examples shown (each coin is unique)

Buy with Confidence

• Guaranteed authentic ancient coin
• Carefully sourced and verified
• 30-day return policy
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