Aulus Vitellius was appointed emperor by legions stationed in Germany. Vitellius and his legions then marched on Rome only to find Otho installed as the new emperor. Undeterred, Vitellius seized power after victory at the Battle of Bedriacum in Northern Italy and the suicide of Otho three days later. Confronted with the task of restoring peace after civil war, Vitellius may have turned to the imagery on this gold aureus as one method to promote the return of stability. The reverse depicts a seated personification of clemency with the legend CLEMENTIA IMP(eratoris) GERMANICI [The clemency of the emperor (the conqueror) of Germany]. It may have promoted the spirit of leniency and fairness with which the new emperor intended to act or wished to be associated. However, peace would not return to Rome. The eastern legions elected their own commander Titus Flavius Vespasianus. After only eight months in office, Vitellius was murdered in Rome by soldiers loyal to Vespasian. It was ultimately up to the Flavians to restore order and end the cycle of civil wars in Rome. John Thilgten 2011