The Roman emperor Vitellius was born on this day in AD 15. He ruled for just 8 months in AD 69 . Post your coins of Vitellius. BTW, he is my favorite of the 4. The man liked to eat, which is what I like to do too Vitellius (69 A.D.) AR Denarius O: A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head right. R: PONT MAXIM, Vesta, veiled, seated right on throne, holding patera and sceptre. Rome 18mm 3g RICI pg 273, #107
VITELLIUS AR Denarius OBVERSE: A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head right REVERSE: XV VIR SACR FAC Tripod, raven below, dolphin above Struck at Rome, Apr/Dec 69AD 2.9g, 19mm RIC 109, BMC 39, S 2201 VITELLIUS AR Denarius OBVERSE: A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head right REVERSE: PONT MAXIM, Vesta seated right, holding scepter and patera Struck at Rome, Apr/Dec 69AD 1.44g, 19mm RIC 107
An emperor you have to save up for - well, I would have to anyway. Nice coins guys. I particularly like the tripod/raven/dolphin motif.
I didn't have to save too long to acquire this lower quality example. I recall paying just over $100 2 years ago. Happy birthday, Vitellius. May your headless body forever rest in peace at the bottom of the Tiber.
Unfortunately I am a bit short on portraits of Vitellius. My denarius with the hands reverse is early from the period when they were still using a portrait more like Otho. For a long time my only Vitellius was the 3/4 of a fourree. Fourrees of Vitellius are not common and often the hang up in an attempt to get the twelve in plated. I decided I should buy the 3/4 when I could but never finished the 12 anyway. Someone needs to post a sestertius. His huge bronzes can be real lookers!
My only Vitellius was bought because it came from Lugdunum. Vitellius Denarius Obv:– A VITELLIVS IMP GERMAN, Laureate head right Rev:– VICTORIA AVGVSTI, Victory with shield advancing left, S P Q R on shield Minted in Lugdunum. A.D. 69 References:– RIC I 62 (Scarce)
I'd be curious to see if anyone has any first-year issues of Vespasian in which the portrait looks like Vitellius. The Roman mint modified a number of earlier dies that year, and Vespasian sometimes looks like Vitellius and even Otho.
VITELLIUS 69 A.D. RIC 115 AE Sestertius (29.78 g.) Rome Apr. - Dec. 69 A.D. A VITELLIVS GERMANICVS IMP AVG P M TR P Laureate and draped bust r. Rev. MARS VICTOR S – C Mars, helmeted and in military dress, striding l., holding Victory in r. hand, parazonium at side and trophy over l. shoulder. VITELLIUS 69 A.D. RIC 105 AR Denarius A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P Laureate head of Vitellius r. Obv. LIBERTAS standing VITELLIUS 69 A.D. RIC 80 AV Aureus (7.33 g.) Rome Apr. - Dec. 69 A.D. A VITELLIVS GERMAN IMP TR P laureate head r. Rev. LIBERTAS RESTITVTA Libertas standing facing, head r., holding pileus in r. hand and long rod in left
My Vitellius looks like everyone else's here, (save for IOM of course). They sure must have circulated for long after his rule, since I find most of his denari pretty worn. I think his denari are easier to find than Galba and Otho, is that what others find as well?
Yes, absolutely, not that I have one. But there are plenty of coins to choose from at any given time.
Sweet => that's a great new addition, Mat (oh, and great coins from the peanut gallery as well ... yup, there are certainly a few pretty outstanding examples) ... ... *rats* ... Yah, you guessed it => I don't have a happy Birthday boy coin!! (he is one of the 4 of the 12 Caesars that have eluded my clutches) Congrats, Mat
