Vitellius, 2nd January – 20th December 69
Aureus late April-early December 69, AV 7.28 g. A VITELLIVS GERMAN IMP TR P Laureate head of Vitellius r. Rev. L VITELLIVS COS III CENSOR Laureate and draped bust of L. Vitellius r., holding eagle-tipped sceptre. C 3. BMC 10. RIC 76. CBN –. Calicó 569a (these dies). Extremely rare. Two attractive portraits of fine style, several light marks on both obverse and reverse, otherwise about extremely fine / good very fine Privately purchased from Ibergold in 1982. This coin is sold with an export licence issued by the government of Spain. The elder Vitellius, shown on the reverse of this aureus struck by his son, the emperor Vitellius, was a familiar figure at court during the reign of Claudius, and was the most successful politician of his age. However, this was a dubious distinction: during his lifetime it earned him praise and rewards, but afterwards, Tacitus tells us, he was despised for his methods. Despite his mixed legacy, this aureus shows that Vitellius found it useful to offer his notorious father as proof of his own fitness for office – a fact that sheds much light on Vitellius own personality. When entering the Imperial presence Lucius Vitellius would uncover his head, prostrate himself and avert his gaze. He pursued and flattered Imperial ladies, including Antonia (who he apparently tried to marry) and Messalina, the third wife of Claudius, before whom he would grovel and request the honour of removing her shoes so he could kiss them. He encouraged some of the most grotesque excesses of the Julio-Claudians, including the practice of worshipping Caligula as a god and Claudius final marriage to his niece Agrippina Junior. For Lucius Vitellius no idea was too far-fetched and no cost too great if it benefited him. On the less scandalous side, the elder Vitellius helped lead Roman armies in Armenia in 18, served as Legate of Syria from 35 to 37 (during which he deposed Pontius Pilate in Judaea), and was consul in 34, 43 and 47. Two of those consulships were held during the reign of Claudius, under whom he reached the zenith of his career, virtually running the government while Claudius helped lead the invasion of Britain. An attempt to prosecute Lucius Vitellius failed in 51, and it is believed that he died soon thereafter.