Vitellius Coins
Aulus Vitellius Germanicus Augustus
Aulus Vitellius was acclaimed emperor by the Rhine legions before Otho had even been defeated. An indolent and gluttonous commander by ancient accounts (his appetite is a literary topos in Suetonius), he nonetheless reached Rome after Bedriacum. His reign of eight months ended when the Danubian and Eastern legions declared for Vespasian; Vitellius was captured, tortured, and killed in the streets of Rome.
Vitellius's year demonstrated how swiftly any military bloc could raise and topple an emperor. His coins document a propaganda effort to legitimise his power through appeals to military concordance, the same appeal Galba had failed to sustain. The series is historically important and moderately scarce.
Key Events
Coinage
Vitellius struck coinage at Rome and at Lugdunum (Lyon), with some issues from Tarraco. His portrait shows a heavy, fleshy face consistent with ancient descriptions. The reverse types emphasise military loyalty, particularly the CONSENSVS EXERCITVVM (Consensus of the Armies) type, and the bond with the Rhine legions. Some issues explicitly honour individual legions.
Denominations
Notable Types
- CONSENSVS EXERCITVVM (Consensus of the Armies)
- XV VIR SACR FAC priestly emblems types
- Legionary types honouring individual Rhine units
- CONCORDIA PR (Concord of the Roman People)
Common Reverses
Active Mints
Related Resources
Further Reading
- Roman Imperial Coinage, Volume I (revised),
- The Twelve Caesars,