This should be interesting to watch Jay. Can I break the rules and post an
RIC 1? It just doesn’t feel right otherwise!
Vitellius (69 AD). AR
Denarius, 18 mm, 2.51 g.
Rome mint. Struck late April to December 20, 69.
O: A
VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P, laureate
head right.
R: L
VITELLIVS COS III CENSOR, L.
Vitellius seated left on curule chair, holding branch and eagle-tipped
sceptre.
RIC I, 97 (R);
Cohen 55 (40 Francs).
Lucius Vitellius the elder, the father of the emperor of the same name,
had an impressive career under
Tiberius,
Caligula and
Claudius. He achieved the highest honors attainable by a private
man at
Rome under the Empire:
consul for the third time and
censor. He held these offices during the reign of
Claudius, being a close friend of the emperor and the most influential
Roman senator.
Vitellius died unexpectedly from a paralytic stroke in 51 and received a statue on the speaker's platform on the
Roman Forum, with the
inscription 'Of unwavering loyalty to the emperor'.
The year 36 saw an incident which deserves mentioning. In
Judaea, a Samaritan, claiming to be Moses reincarnate, gathered an armed following. The prefect of
Judaea,
Pontius Pilate, intervened immediately, dispersed the crowd, and
had the ringleaders executed. The Samaritans considered
his violence excessive and appealed to the Syrian governor.
Vitellius heard their complaints, sent Pilate back to
Italy and appointed Marcellus. Pilate's co-ruler in
Judaea, the high priest Joseph Caiaphas, was replaced by
his brother-in-law Jonathan.
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-117343