★ L. Vitellius the Elder ★

VITELLIUS (69). GOLD Aureus. Rome.

Obv: A VITELLIVS GERM IMP AVG TR P.
Laureate head right.
Rev: L VITELLIVS COS III CENSOR.
L. Vitellius the Elder (the father of Vitellius) seated left on curule chair, holding branch and eagle-tipped sceptre.

RIC² 96.

L. Vitellius the Elder served as consul on three separate occasions, first with Paullus Fabius Persicus in 34, and then with Claudius (while he was emperor) in 43 and 47. He died from paralysis in 51, 18 years before his son, Aulus Vitellius, briefly became emperor. Very rare.

Condition: Near very fine, banker's mark on the reverse.

Weight: 7.20 g.
Diameter: 18 mm.