Vitellius (late April-20 December AD 69). AR denarius (18mm, 5h). NGC Fine. Rome. A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate head of Vitellius right / XV VIR-SACR FAC, tripod, surmounted by dolphin right, eagle standing right on strut. RIC I 109. Aulus Vitellius, the ninth emperor of Rome and the third in the chaotic Year of the Four Emperors, ruled briefly in a period marked by turbulence and instability. His ascent to power was propelled by the legions under his command in Germania, who declared him emperor following Otho's death. However, Vitellius' tenure was characterized by indulgence and extravagance, subsequently leading to financial strain on the imperial treasury. His governance was also characterized by cruelty and brutality amidst significant political and military upheaval, notably his conflict with Vespasian, whose forces eventually defeated Vitellius in December AD 69. Chronicled by historians like Tacitus and Suetonius as emblematic of the decadence and instability that plagued the Roman imperial succession, Vitellius' brief tenure highlights the dangers of indulgence and the volatility of power during one of Rome's most tumultuous periods. His rule stands in stark contrast to the effective governance that would follow, serving as a cautionary tale of the volatility of imperial succession and the perils of unchecked power in Roman history. HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

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