Sale: Triton VII, Lot: 885. Estimate $2000.  Closing Date: Monday, 12 January 2004.  Sold For $1800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

VITELLIUS. 69 AD. AR Denarius (3.52 gm). Rome mint. Struck April-December 69 AD. A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head right / XV VIR SACR FAC, tripod-lebes surmounted by dolphin right; raven standing right below. RIC I 109; BMCRE 39; BN 77; RSC 111. Lightly toned, choice EF. ($2000)

The quindecimviri sacris faciundis were one of the four major priesthoods, whose main function was to guard the Sibylline books, a collection of largely ritual texts which traditionally dated to the reign of Tarquin the Proud, the last king of Rome. Beginning in the early Republic, the priesthood's members came from some of Rome's most aristocratic families, including that of Vitellius.