A rare Vitellius

I have known that this coin existed for the past 3 years, but until last night I did not have the chance to purchase one. This coin of Vitellius features Vitellius on the obverse and his father L. Vitellius on the reverse.

One focus of my 12 Ceasars collection was to find the most interesting reverses I could for the coins I chose. I already have 2 coins of Vitellius. One is a fairly common type but the other is the dynastic issue. I am very happy to add this rarity to my collection. Part of what I love about this coin is the use of portraits on both the obverse and reverse.

Please post coins that you have wanted for years and have recently added to your collection, or coins with 2 portraits.




Vitellius AR Denarius
69 CE
17 mm 3.32 g
Obv: A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P: Head of Vitellius, laureate, right
Rev: L VITELLIVS COS III CENSOR: Bust of Lucius Vitellius, laureate and draped, right; eagle-tipped sceptre in front
Very rare
RIC 99
Ex: Silbury Coins January 27, 2019.

 

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Now that is a fantastic type! Congrats on the rare find Andrew!

This Domitian denarius has a reverse I patiently waited years for.

Domitian
AR Denarius, 2.73g
Rome mint, 95-96 AD
RIC 816 (R2). BMC 243. RSC 175.
Obv: DOMITIANVS AVG GERM; Head of Domitian, bare, bearded, r.
Rev: Temple, eight columns, seated figure in centre; IMP CAESAR on architrave

Not to mention the unusual bare headed obverse.

 

Thanks David! Your Domitian is wonderful. I have been looking lately for interesting reverse types of Domitian and that one is high on my list of wants..

 

What an interesting coin!

 

I was unfamiliar with this type. Congratulations on the acquisition and new addition to your collection.

 

Great job @Orfew !

 

A very interesting coin Orfew. Nice find indeed. My volume of sear (2000, reprinted 2006) doesn't even mention it.

I can share a more common coin of Vitellius, so to speak. Not as special as yours!

 

That is a very nice coin @Limes. It is much nicer than my example.

 

Great find bro!

 

Here is one I owned briefly 15-20 years ago:

 

Wow @PeteB that is a stunner! Amazing portraits on both sides. That would be an expensive coin today.

 

Magnificent example PeteB One of the nicest I have ever seen. Its definately a keeper!

 

Took me some time to add this Vitellius to my 12 Caesar set in bronze:

 

It arrived today. I am very happy with this one. The original photo was a little too dark.

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3600 chf a little over a year ago:
https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=4260&category=116689&lot=3523787
What do you think of the Armstrong coin?
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/...f-julio-claudian-era/lucius-vitellius-father/

The problem I see is once you have the father coin, you will want the kids:
https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=5196&category=162355&lot=4339147

 

To me that coin is worth the price it went for. The Armstrong coin however is just amazing.

As for the offspring of Vitellius...I have one. It is worn but I still love it. These are also not easy to find.

Vitellius (AD 69). AR denarius
(18mm, 2.95 gm, 5h).
NGC VG 4/5 - 4/5. Rome.
Obv: A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head of Vitellius right
Rev: LIBERI IMP GERM AVG, bareheaded and draped busts of the children of Vitellius (Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Junior and Vitellia), facing one another.
RIC I 101. Rare.
Ex: Heritage Auctions November 29, 2018 Lot 65074