Vitellius, April –December 69. Sestertius 69, Æ 25.82 g. A VITELLIVS GERMAN IMP AVG TRP Laureate and draped bust r. Rev. VIC – TO – RIA – AVG / S – C Victory standing r., l. foot on helmet, inscribing OB / CIV / SER on a shield attached to a palm tree. C 94. BMC –. RIC 142. CBN 109. Hendin 1462.
Extremely rare and among the finest specimens known. Struck on a very broad flan
and with a lovely untouched light green patina. Areas of encrustations on
reverse, otherwise about extremely fine / good very fine

Ex Münzhandlung Basel sale 1, 1934, 320.

The reverse of this rare sestertius openly celebrates Vitellius’ victory over Otho at the Battle of Bedriacum on April 14, AD 69, although it was traditionally considered uncouth to celebrate a victory in civil war in the same manner as a victory over a foreign enemy. But then, the character of Vitellius tends to be described as rather low in the ancient literary sources. Here the Victory of the Augustus is openly proclaimed by the surrounding legend while the personification of Victory inscribes a shield with the legend OB/ CIV/ SER, an abbreviation of ob cives servatos (”for saving a fellow citizen [in battle]”). The shield and inscription were intended to associate Vitellius, whose legitimacy was far from unshakeable, with the glorious memory of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. Together the shield and inscription conflate two major honours accorded to Augustus by the Senate in 27 BC in recognition of the end of civil war and the new era of peace that he ushered in. The shield itself alludes to the clupeus virtutis, a golden shield inscribed with the virtues accorded to Augustus: bravery, clemency, justice, and piety while the inscription refers to the corona civic, an oak wreath awarded to Augustus ob cives servatos. He was deemed to have earned it because through his victory over Antony he saved the entire Roman citizen body from the bloodshed of continued civil war. However, as advertising for the rather brief reign of Vitellius the types were a little misleading. Not only was Vitellius somewhat sub par in the virtue department, his victory over Otho had not saved the citizenry. He had only deferred the violence and destruction for a few months, until the eastern legions proclaimed Vespasian as a rival emperor on July 1, AD 69 and forces loyal to him began the march on Rome. As it turned out Vitellius had saved no fellow citizens at all. Indeed, he could not even save himself.