Vitellius. AD 69. AR Denarius (20mm, 3.15 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck circa late April-20 December. Λ VITELLIVS GERM IMP ΛVG TR P, laureate head right / PONT MAXIM, Vesta, veiled and draped, seated right on throne, holding vertical scepter in left hand and patera in right. RIC I 107; RSC 72; BMCRE 34-7; BN 71-4. Attractive multi-hued iridescent toning. In NGC encapsulation 5872561-018, graded Ch XF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5.
The last of Nero’s three successors, Vitellius was declared emperor by his troops while campaigning in lower Germany in January, AD 69. His reign was short lived however, as Vespasian was hailed emperor in Judaea only a few months later. Vitellius’ troops gave little resistance as Vespasian entered Rome where he quickly abdicated but was murdered by a mob with great brutality in December of the same year.
