Vitellius, April –December 69. As circa late April-20 December 69, Æ 10.34 g. A VITELLIVS GERMANICVS IMP AVG P M TR P Laureate head r. Rev. I O MAX CAPITO S – C Jupiter, naked to waist, seated l. in the Capitoline temple, holding thunderbolt in r. and sceptre in l. C –. BMC –. RIC 127 (this coin). CBN –. Bastien, Vitellius et le temple de Jupiter Capitolin: un as inédit, in QT 7, 1978, p. 181-202 and pl. I, 1-2 (this coin).
Apparently unique and an issue of tremendous importance and fascination depicting
the temple of Jupiter Capitolinum . A bold portrait struck in high relief,
dark tone and about extremely fine

From the Pierre Bastien collection.

In his youth, Aulus Vitellius had been a companion of Tiberius after his withdrawal to the island of Capri, where he became a friend of the infamous Caligula. He served as the proconsular governor of Africa in AD 60/1 and at the end of 68, Galba, the first of the rival emperors of the Year of the Four Emperors (AD 69), appointed him to command the frontier armies of Germania Inferior. This appointment was surprising to everyone, including Vitellius. Surprise turned to shock when on January 1, AD 69, the Rhine legions refused to make their annual oaths to serve the emperor. After a period of consternation it was revealed that they preferred Vitellius to Galba and proclaimed him the new emperor at Cologne. He was initially recognised by the legions of Germania Inferior and Superior, but those of Britannia, Gaul, and Raetia soon followed suit. Having amassed this military support, Vitellius marched on Rome, but by now Galba had been overthrown and replaced by a third contender, Otho. On April 14, AD 69, Vitellius defeated the forces of his rival at Bedriacum and Otho committed suicide. He was recognized by the Senate in Rome, but his administration was reportedly one steeped in excess from the start. The gluttonous Vitellius was said to feast four times a day and eat rare foods that he used the Roman navy to seek out. The riotous and sometimes vicious party that was the reign of Vitellius began to fall apart in July of AD 69, when it was discovered that Vespasian, the commander of the eastern legions had been proclaimed the fourth and final emperor of the year. Vitellius immediately panicked and tried to find a way to lay down his power to avoid the inevitable doom that was coming for him. He attempted to deposit the imperial insignia at the Temple of Concord, but was prevented by the Praetorian Guard, whose members did not wish to give up their power without a fight. When the forces of Vespasian entered the city in December, AD 69, Vitellius’ adherents put up a strong resistance while their emperor cowered in hiding. However, Vitellius was eventually found and dragged to the Gemonian Steps. There he was executed and his body cast into the Tiber—the final bloody act of the Year of the Four Emperors. The reverse type of this extremely rare bronze as features the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill. According to tradition, the temple was begun by Tarquinius Superbus, the last Etruscan king of Rome and dedicated in 509 BC, the first year of the Roman Republic. It is somewhat ironic that this particular temple is depicted here. During the fighting between the forces of Vespasian and those of Vitellius on the Capitoline Hill on December 19, AD 69, the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus was burnt down.