094: Rome. Vitellius, April - December 69 AD. Gold Aureus
May-26-08

Closed at:US $200,000.00

   Rome. Vitellius, April - December 69 AD. Gold Aureus (7.31 g), 
   Rome, struck August - early December 69 AD. Laureate head of 
   Vitellius right. Reverse: Vesta seated right, holding patera 
   and scepter; PONT MAXIM. RIC 106; Biaggi 282 (this coin); 
   BMCRE 33; Calicó 571 (this coin); C. 71. Lustrous, well struck 
   and with an excellent portrait. Beautifully toned a deep, 
   luscious reddish brown, resplendent with iridescent reds, 
   magentas and steel blues. Very rare. NGC graded About 
   Uncirculated. 
   Estimated Value $70,000 - 80,000. 
   Ex "Perfectionist Collection," Leu 93, 10 May 2005, lot 11; ex 
   collection of L. Biaggi, Bank Leu 25, 23 April 1980, 261; and 
   from the Bosco Reale hoard of 1895. Illustrated in Money of 
   the World, coin 40. 

Images & text re-used by permission, courtesy of Ira & Larry Goldberg Auctioneers, Beverly Hills, CA