Rome - Vitellius and Vesta

March 2026

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Vitellius, 69 A.D. (Civil War) denarius. OB: A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P ; Rx: PONT MAXIM ("Pontifex Maximus" = Grand Pontiff). RIC 16.
This type of denarius resumes from that of Tiberius, who represented Livia in the guise of Peace (RCV 1763. see Tribute Penny). This time, Vitellius uses Vesta, but the message remains the same: attach the new principality to the Julio-Claudian dynasty and it's prestige.
History: Vitellius was proclaimed on 1 or 2 January 69 by the armies of Germany. After Bedriacum and disappearance of Otho in April 69, Vitellius moved to Rome in June. Vespasian was proclaimed by the army in Alexandria on July 1, 69 and Vitellius can not be maintained. After the outbreak of a revolt in Rome in December, he was assassinated on 20 and dragged his body into the Tiber, leaving Vespasian sole master of the Roman Empire.
This scarce issue was found in the antique section of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey. I had a pester a dealer to produce anything and he finally relented with this and two other coins for a fairly modest sum.