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Index Of All Titles


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AEQVITI
Aes Formatum
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The Age of Gallienus
Alexander Tetradrachms
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XXI

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ERIC Table of Contents


Title Page

Introduction

About Roman Coins

Denominations

Coins of Other Ancient Cultures

Identifying Roman Coins

How To Use This Book

Mintmarks

Mint Map

Pricing And Grading

Bibliography

Reference Catalogs Cited

Coin Terms Used

Glossary

Rarity Tables

Index of Rulers

Photography Credits

Additional Web Resources

Imperial Catalog:

AUGUSTUS
LIVA
AGRIPPA
NERO CLAUDIUS DRUSUS
GERMANICUS
AGRIPPINA I
TIBERIUS
DRUSUS
ANTONIA
CALIGULA
CLAUDIUS I
BRITANNICUS
AGRIPPINA II
NERO
GALBA
CLODIUS MACER
OTHO
VITELLIUS
VESPASIAN
DOMITILLA
TITUS
DOMITIAN
DOMITIA
JULIA TITI
NERVA
TRAJAN
PLOTINA
MARCIANA
MATIDIA
HADRIAN
SABINA
AELIUS
ANTONINUS PIUS
FAUSTINA I
MARCUS AURELIUS
FAUSTINA II
LUCIUS VERUS
LUCILLA
COMMODUS
CRISPINA
PERTINAX
DIDIUS JULIANUS
MANLIA SCANTILLA
DIDIA CLARA
PESCENNIUS NIGER
CLODIUS ALBINUS
SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS
JULIA DOMNA
CARACALLA
PLAUTILLA
GETA
MACRINUS
DIADUMENIAN
ELAGABALUS
JULIA MAESA
JULIA SOAEMIAS
JULIA PAULA
AQUILIA SEVERA
ANNIA FAUSTINA
SEVERUS ALEXANDER
JULIA MAMAEA
ORBIANA
MAXIMINUS I
PAULINA
MAXIMUS
GORDIAN I
GORDIAN II
BALBINUS
PUPIENUS
GORDIAN III
TRANQUILLINA
PHILIP I
OTACILIA SEVERA
PHILIP II
PACATIAN
JOTAPIAN
TRAJAN DECIUS
HERENNIA ETRUSCILLA
HERENNIUS ETRUSCUS
HOSTILIAN
TREBONIANUS GALLUS
VOLUSIAN
AEMILIAN
CORNELIA SUPERA
SILBANNACUS
URANIUS ANTONINUS
VALERIAN I
MARINIANA
VALERIAN II
GALLIENUS
SALONINA
SALONINUS
REGALIANUS
DRYANTILLA
POSTUMUS
LAELIANUS
MARIUS
VICTORINUS
DOMITIAN II
TETRICUS I
TETRICUS II
QUIETUS
MACRIANUS
CLAUDIUS II
QUINTILLUS
AURELIAN
SEVERINA
ZENOBIA
VABALATHUS
TACITUS
FLORIAN
PROBUS
SATURNINUS
CARUS
CARINUS
MAGNIA URBICA
NIGRIAN
NUMERIAN
JULIAN I
DIOCLETIAN
MAXIMIAN
CARAUSIUS
ALLECTUS
DOMITIUS DOMITIANUS
CONSTANTIUS I
THEODORA
GALERIUS
GALERIA VALERIA
SEVERUS II
MAXENTIUS
ROMULUS
CONSTANTINE I
HELENA
FAUSTA
ALEXANDER
LICINIUS I
CONSTANTIA
MAXIMINUS II
LICINIUS II
CRISPUS
VALERIUS VALENS
MARTINIAN
CONSTANTINE II
DELMATIUS
HANNIBALLIANUS
CONSTANS
CONSTANTIUS II
MAGNENTIUS
DECENTIUS
NEPOTIAN
VETRANO
CONSTANTIUS GALLUS
JULIAN II
JOVIAN
VALENTINIAN I
VALENS
PROCOPIUS
GRATIAN
VALENTINIAN II
THEODOSIUS I
AELIA FLACCILLA
MAGNUS MAXIMINUS
FLAVIUS VICTOR
EUGENIUS
HONORIUS
CONSTANTINE III
CONSTANS II
MAXIMINUS
PRISCUS ATTALUS
JOVINUS
SABASTIANUS
CONSTANTIUS III
GALLA PLACIDIA
JOHANNES
VALENTINIAN III
LICINIA EUDOXIA
HONORIA
PETRONIUS MAXIMINUS
AVITUS
MAJORIAN
LIBIUS SEVERUS
ANTHEMIUS
EUPHEMIA
ANICIUS OLYBRIUS
GLYCERIUS
JULIUS NEPOS
ROMULUS AUGUSTUS
ARCADIUS
EUDOXIA
PULCHERIA
THEODOSIUS II
EUDOCIA
MARCIAN
LEO I
VERINA
LEO II
ZENO
ARIADNE
BASILISCUS
ZENONIS
LEONTIUS I
ANASTASIUS I
ANONYMOUS COINAGE

ERIC The Encyclopedia of Roman Imperial Coins
by Rasiel Suarez


Vitellius

   Augustus 69

Galba appointed Vitellius as Governor in the Rhine region in 68. He did this as no favor to Vitellius but rather as a strategic move to pass off a hot potato. Because Vitellius came from an aristocratic and decidedly non-military background, he calculated that the army of the region would have their hands full in dealing with this persona non grata. Whether the generals of the army in question saw through the attempted ruse or simply accepted the decision was irrelevant and backfired for Galba. Aware of the discontentment within the army of the situation in Rome, Vitellius and his men prepared to do something about it. The army set out for Rome in a journey that took several months that was noted as being more of a carnival parade than a military procession. 
However, the honeymoon was soon over for Vitellius who was neither the darling of the army nor especially influential elsewhere. True to his hedonistic background, he decided to throw massive parties throughout Rome while his enemies assembled armies to depose him. When he finally realized he was in real danger, too late, he met with a contact from the approaching army of Vespasian and made an agreement to abdicate in return for peaceful retirement. He then announced his decision to the Senate creating a scandal. Feeling that this cowardice was wholly unbecoming of an emperor a mob of angry citizens and soldiers broke through to his quarters where he was hiding and ripped him to shreds. 

Of all things, the biographers of Vitellius note that his chief vice was none other than gorging himself with food. It was said he couldn 't even bear to make a sacrifice of food at the altar without stealing a couple bites first!
 
While not cheap, the coins of Vitellius are readily available in all collectible grades. Expect to pay around $100 for an "entry level" coin and prices rise quickly from there. A problem that is typical of the coins of Vitellius, as well as those of Otho, are the normally small flans they were struck on. Unless the coin was struck perfectly centered some of the legends will be missing. If they hadn 't worn off already, that is! Naturally, those coins with full legends will command a premium.
 
The most commonly available type is of the Altar with dolphin and raven reverse.      

Busts:

1) Bare head right
2) Laureate head left
3) Laureate head right
4) Laureate, draped bust right

Obverses:

 
1) A VITELLIVS AVG IMP GERMAN
2) A VITELLIVS GER IMP AVG P MAX TR P
3) A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG PM TR P
4) A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P
5) A VITELLIVS GERM IMP TR P
6) A VITELLIVS GERMA IMP AVG PM TR P
7) A VITELLIVS GERMAN IMP AVG PM TR P
8) A VITELLIVS GERMAN IMP TR P
9) A VITELLIVS GERMANICVS IMP
10) A VITELLIVS GERMANICVS IMP AVG
11) A VITELLIVS GERMANICVS IMP AVG PM TR P
12) A VITELLIVS IMP AVG PM T P P
13) A VITELLIVS IMP GERMAN
14) A VITELLIVS IMP GERMANICVS

 

Reverses:

 
1) AEQVITAS AVGVSTI
2) ANNONA AVG
3) ANNONA AVGVSTI
4) CERES AVG
5) CLEMENTIA IMP GERMAN
6) CLEMENTIA IMP GERMANICI
7) CONCORD AVG
8) CONCORDIA AVG
9) CONCORDIA AVGVSTI
10) CONCORDIA P R
11) CONCORDIA PRAETORIANORVM
12) CONSENSVS EXERCITVVM
13) CONSENSVS HISPANIARVM
14) FIDES EXERCITVM
15) FIDES EXERCITVVM
16) FIDES PRAETORIANORVM
17) HONOS ET VIRTVS
18) I O MAX CAPITO
19) I O MAX CAPITOLINVS
20) IVPPITER VICTOR
21) L VITELL CENSOR II
22) L VITELL CENSOR III
23) L VITELLI III COS CENSOR
24) L VITELLIVS COS III CENSOR
25) LIBERI IMP GERM AVG
26) LIBERI IMP GERMAN
27) LIBERIS IMP GERMANICI
28) LIBERTAS AVGVSTI
29) LIBERTAS RESTITVTA
30) MARS VICTOR
31) PAX AVGVSTI
32) PAX GER ROM
33) PAXS AVGVSTI
34) PONT MAXIM
35) ROMA RENASCENS
36) SECVRITAS IMP GERMAN
37) SECVRITAS P ROMANI
38) SENAT P Q ROMANVS
39) SPQR / OB / CIV / SER
40) SPQR / OB / CS
41) VESTA P R QVIRITIVM
42) VICTOR AVGV
43) VICTOR AVGVSTI
44) VICTORIA AVG
45) VICTORIA AVGVSTI
46) VICTORIA IMP GERMAN
47) VICTORIA IMP GERMANICI
48) XV VIR SACR FAC
49) XV VIR SACR FCA
50) No legend

 

Types:

 
1) Altar
2) Annona standing left, holding Victory and cornucopia; modius to left and galley prow to right.
3) Clementia seated left, holding branch and scepter.
4) Concordia seated left, holding branch and scepter.
5) Concordia seated left, holding patera and cornucopia
6) Concordia seated left, sacrificing over altar and holding cornucopia
7) Concordia standing left, holding branch and cornucopia
8) Hands, in handshake
9) Hispania standing left, holding shield and javelins.
10) Honos standing right on left, holding scepter and cornucopia, facing Virtus to right, stepping on helmet, holding parazonium and spear.
11) Jupiter seated left, holding Victory and scepter
12) Legend FIDES / EXERCITVVM
13) Libertas standing left, holding pileus and scepter.
14) Libertas standing, facing, holding pileus and scepter.
15) Mars advancing left, holding spear and two standards
16) Mars advancing left, holding Victory and trophy
17) Pax standing left, holding branch and cornucopia
18) Pax standing left, setting weapons on fire and holding cornucopia.
19) Roma standing right, holding Victory and spear
20) Securitas seated left, resting head on arm; altar to left.
21) Securitas seated right, holding scepter, facing altar to right
22) Spain standing left, holding grain ears and shield with two spears.
23) Temple with (2) columns; Jupiter seated within, holding thunderbolt and scepter
24) Altar; dolphin above and raven below.
25) Vesta seated left, holding patera and torch
26) Vesta seated left, holding trophy and scepter.
27) Vesta seated left, raising hand and holding torch.
28) Vesta seated right, holding patera and scepter.
29) Victory advancing left, holding shield
30) Victory advancing left, holding shield reading SP / QR
31) Victory advancing left, touching trophy with seated captive at base
32) Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm.
33) Victory seated left, holding patera and palm.
34) Victory standing left on globe, holding wreath and palm.
35) Victory standing left, stepping on helmet, holding shield on palm tree reading OB / CIVES / SER
36) Vitellius 's father seated left, raising hand and holding scepter with eagle atop
37) Vitellius standing left on right, shaking hands with Roma to left, holding spear with shield.
38) Vitellius 's son bare head right, facing his daughter 's draped bust left.
39) Wreath, SPQR / OB / CIV / SER within
40) Wreath, SPQR / OB / CS within

 

Mints:

 
1) Roma
2) Spain

 
AU Aureus Reference(s)

 
1) B2, O10, R12, T15 RIC I 4
2) B2, O13, R13, T22 
3) B2, O13, R38, T29 RIC I 32, C 84
4) B2, O14, R36, T21 RIC I 11
5) B2, O14, R46, T34 RIC I 15, BMC 97
6) B2, O14, R47, T34 RIC I 16, BMC 98
7) B3, O04, R24, T36 RIC I 94, BMC 23, C 54
8) B3, O04, R29, T14 RIC I 104, C 46
9) B3, O04, R48, T24 RIC I 108, BMC 38, C 110

 
AR Denarius

 
10) B1, O08, R10, T05 
11) B1, O08, R48, T24
12) B1, O09, R10, T05 RIC I 66, C 21
13) B1, O09, R14, T08 RIC I 67
14) B1, O09, R20, T14 RIC I 68
15) B2, O04, R40, T40
16) B2, O13, R12, T15 RIC I 23
17) B2, O13, R41, T27 RIC I 33
18) B2, O13, R43, T30  ® in front of bust RIC I 36, C 101
19) B2, O14, R12, T15 RIC I 6
20) B3, O04, R10, T05 RIC I 90, S 2196
21) B3, O04, R20, T11 RIC I 93, C 42
22) B3, O04, R29, T14 RIC I 105
23) B3, O04, R34, T28 RIC I 107, S 2200, C 72
24) B3, O04, R48, T24 RIC I 109, S 2201
25) B3, O04, R50, T33 RIC I 110
26) B3, O08, R10, T05 RIC I 73, C 20
27) B3, O08, R20, T14 RIC I 75, S 2197, C 44
28) B3, O08, R26, T38 RIC I 79, C2
29) B3, O08, R29, T14 RIC I 81, S 2198, C 48
30) B3, O08, R40, T40 RIC I 83
31) B3, O08, R48, T24 RIC I 86
32) B3, O08, R49, T24 
33) B3, O09, R48, T24 RIC I 70
34) B3, O09, R50, T33 RIC I 71, C 121
35) B3, O13, R14, T08 RIC I 30, C 31
36) B3, O13, R15, T08 RIC I 27
37) B3, O13, R19, T23 RIC I 56
38) B3, O13, R45, T30 RIC I 62
39) B3, O14, R15, T08 RIC I 54

AE Sestertius Reference(s)

 
40) B4, O07, R07, T04 RIC I 133
41) B4, O11, R30, T16 RIC I 115, C 61
42) B4, O11, R31, T17 RIC I 118, C 67

 
AE Dupondius

 
43) B4, O07, R09, T06 RIC I 162, C 15

 
AE As

 
44) B2, O13, R05, T03 RIC I 39
45) B2, O13, R15, T08 RIC I 42
46) B2, O13, R29, T14 RIC I 43
47) B2, O13, R35, T19 RIC I 45
48) B2, O13, R45, T30 RIC I 46

Vitellius Busts

 


Vitellius Types

 



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