Watch List notes:

The Roman Empire
Vitellius, January – December 69

Aureus circa late April-20 December 69, AV 7.35 g. A VITELLIVS GERMAN IMP TR P Laureate head r. Rev. CONCOR – DIA P R Concordia seated left holding patera and cornucopia. C 19. BMC 6. RIC 72. CBN –. Hurter 9 (this coin). Calicó 543 (this obverse die).
Rare. An interesting portrait well struck on a full flan and extremely fine


Ex M&M 37, 1968, 300 and LHS 97, 2006, 9 sales.
Had the strange and unpredictable tides of civil war not intervened in the life of Aulus Vitellius, he probably would have remained unknown to history, except, perhaps, for the chance discovery of his tombstone. Instead, Galba appointed him governor of Lower Germany late in 68 with the intent of removing him from the capital, and once there Vitellius was swept into power at the head of an insubordinate army intent on marching to Rome to collect their unpaid bonus.
As the uprising gained momentum the emperor whom the legions intended to threaten, Galba, was overthrown by his subordinate Otho, who was doomed to a very brief reign. Already en route, the German legions decided to continue, and after they had triumphed in a bloody contest with Otho's army in Northern Italy the senate hailed their candidate Augustus. Vitellius was still in Gaul with the remainder of his troops when he learned of the victory and the actions of the senate, and he celebrated upon reaching the provincial capital of Lugdunum.
He then continued on to Italy and joined the advance legions, leading his 60,000 men on a leisurely march toward Rome that occupied more than a month. Upon arriving he remained in office for eight chaotic months until armies loyal to a new contender, Vespasian, marched on Rome and caused his overthrow.