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Sestertius - Vitellius VICTORIA AVGVSTI S C, Victory
| Issuer | Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Year | 69 |
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| Currency | Denarius, Reform of Augustus (27 BC – AD 215) |
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| Obverse description | Laureate and draped bust of Emperor Vitellius facing right, rendered in high relief with boldly modeled facial features characteristic of Julio-Claudian portraiture. The emperor's thick neck and heavy jowls are faithfully depicted, consistent with his known portraiture on sestertii of AD 69. The laureate wreath is rendered with individual leaf detail. The encircling legend runs clockwise around the bust from lower left. The overall style reflects the Rome mint's accomplished die-cutting tradition of the early Flavian period. |
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| Mint | Rome |
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| Additional information |
Vitellius held power for less than eight months in 69 AD — the Year of the Four Emperors — before being dragged through Rome and executed at the Gemonian Stairs. His bronze coinage was struck at Rome during that brief window, and the invocation of Victoria was nakedly aspirational: his legions had just defeated Otho at Bedriacum, but Vespasian's forces were already moving.
Most Vitellian bronzes were systematically defaced or melted following the Flavian victory. Survivors in any condition are scarce relative to their short minting window.