Early Judaea Capta Commemorative
Struck Under Vitellius

397, Lot: 520. Estimate $2000. Sold for $18000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Vitellius. AD 69. Æ Sestertius (35mm, 26.95 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa late April–20 December. Laureate and draped bust right / Victory standing right, left foot on helmet, inscribing OB/CIVES/SERV on shield set on palm tree. RIC I 123 var. (shield inscription); Hendin 1462. VF, black surfaces, some encrustation and cleaning marks. Rare.

From the Archer M. Huntington Collection, ANS 1001.1.22930.

It is a common misconception that the earliest coins to commemorate the Roman victory over the Jews were struck under Vespasian. While the Jewish War began during the reign of Nero, Vitellius was the first to allude to it on his coinage. This type was later employed on coins of both Vespasian and Titus.