Vitellius, 69 AD, silver Denarius, Rome

Vitellius (69 AD), silver Denarius, Rome, A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head of Vitellius to right, rev. CONCORDIA P R, Concordia seated left, holding patera in her right hand and cornucopiae in her left, 3g, 6h, (BMC 20. Cohen 18. RIC 90). Very fine and starting to bring on a nice tone.

Vitellius was Roman Emperor from 17 April - 22 December AD, during the Year of the Four Emperors. He was originally appointed governor of Lower Germania and was proclaimed emperor by his troops after he defeated Otho at the Battle of Bedriacum. His reign was weakened by his lack of control over the army and his reputation for excessive spending and luxury. He was criticised for holding lavish banquets and allowing his supporters to gain positions of power, while he failed to respond effectively to the growing threat from Vespasian, who had been proclaimed emperor by the eastern legions. Vitellius was eventually defeated by Vespasian's forces at the Second Battle of Bedriacum. He was captured and killed in Rome in December 69 AD, bringing his brief and unstable reign to an end and allowing Vespasian to establish the Flavian dynasty.

The obverse legend A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P translates to "Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, Emperor Augustus, with tribunician power".

The reverse legend CONCORDIA P R, translates to "Harmony of the Roman People".