Vitellius. AD 69. AR Denarius. (19mm,2.86g). Rome mint. Bare head right / Tripod-lebes surmounted by a dolphin right, below a raven perched right. RIC I 70.
..i watched a VF denarius of this emperor sell for over $400 on Ebay over the weekend..i paid $70 for this one over 10 years ago.. Vitellius(with hairbun)/Concordia seated denarius, 69AD, 17mm 2.58gms
Nice, solid add. I too have a well-loved Vitellius - ironically despite his short reign, his denarii were well-accepted and circulated long into the Flavian era - and maybe even later! My current Vitellius I've acquired several others via large lots, but this one has been the one that sticks with me due to the uncommonly smooth metal for the type and (imo) more realistic portrait. I sure would love to eventually get my paws on one of those Spanish mint coins, though!
"On the entrance of Vespasian's troops into Rome, Vitellius' supporters (mostly civilians) organized heavy resistance, resulting in a brutal battle. Entrenched on the city's buildings, they threw stones, javelins, and tiles on Vespasian's soldiers who consequently suffered heavy casualties in the urban fighting. ... Vitellius was eventually dragged out of a hiding-place ... driven to the fatal Gemonian stairs, and there struck down by Vespasian's supporters. "Yet I was once your emperor," were his last words." --wiki You can even see the mark on the side of Vitellius' Head where he was struck down by a roofing tile. Not bad for detail on a denarius...