436, Lot: 544. Estimate $500. Sold for $750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Vitellius. AD 69. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.28 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa late April–20 December. Bare head right / Tripod-lebes surmounted by dolphin right; below, raven standing right. RIC I 70; RSC 115. Good VF, toned, scattered marks.

The reverse is a reference to the priestly college quindecimviri sacris faciendus whose chief function was the care of the Sibylline prophecies. It was usual practice for the emperor to be elected into all the chief priestly colleges, but Vitellius placed special importance on this college because he had held it as a private citizen.