Discovered in 1928, the silver hoard from Marengo (Piemonte) is spectacular and worth a trip to Torino. And this is its star: a silver bust of the emperor Lucius Verus, instantly recognisable by his luxuriant curls, simian hairline, slightly forked beard, and narrow jaw. The thin and brittle silver walls were a bit squashed, giving him a somewhat cockeyed aspect.
Lucius (adoptive son of Antoninus Pius and grandson of Hadrian) co-ruled with Marcus Aurelius for a short period (161 – 169 A.D.) before his death, but his character could not have been more different from his meditative brother. Instead, he was often away from Rome on military campaign, inordinately fond of gambling and horses, over the top parties, women and lavish displays for his troops.
Considered something of a dandy, he was said to have sprinkled gold dust on his gorgeous hair and beard. One imagines he would have especially enjoyed this choice of splash material for his portrait…
