Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVIIAuction date: 9 January 2024
Lot number: 937

Price realized: 2,000 USD   (Approx. 1,832 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Zeno. Second reign, AD 476-491. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.47 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 10th officina. D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over right shoulder in right hand and shield decorated with horseman motif on left shoulder / VICTORI A AVGGG, Victory, draped, standing left, holding long jeweled cross in right hand; star to right; I//CONOB. RIC X 910 and 929; Depeyrot 108/1. Lightly toned with some luster, a few light scratches. EF.

Zeno's ascent to the throne in the east followed an interesting path. The succession of Emperor Leo I during the latter part of his reign was not secure as he had no surviving son. His hope rested in an heir being produced from his daughter Ariadne's marriage to the Isaurian soldier Zeno. The couple produced a son and heir for Leo I who was also given the name Leo. When Leo I's health began to fail, he elevated his grandson to the rank of Caesar in October AD 473 and subsequently as Augustus in January 474. Leo I died a few days later. This left the young and sickly Leo II as sole emperor. Leo I's widow Aelia Verina arranged for Leo II to appoint his own father, Zeno, as co-emperor on 9 February AD 474. This arrangement lasted until the young Leo II died in November of the same year. This left Zeno as sole ruler. Zeno was thrust into a difficult political climate in Constantinople that required one to possess great political acumen to survive. He was ultimately deposed and fled with his wife to Isauria on 9 January AD 475. Zeno, however, was an adept survivor and successfully navigated a return to power. His second reign lasted from late August 476 until his death in 491. Upon his death, the question of succession again arose. This time, his widow, Ariadne appointed a court official named Anastasius as his successor who she then married and continued her tenure as empress. Thus the page turned to the reign of Anastasius who reformed the currency system and ushered in what is now widely divided from late Roman coinage and instead referred to as Byzantine coinage. This distinction leaves Zeno as the final late Roman emperor in the east. Zeno's storied career has recently been given greater attention and treatment in scholarship making his coinage a ripe collecting area.

Estimate: 750 USD

Match 1:
Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 551Auction date: 29 November 2023
Lot number: 612

Price realized: 450 USD   (Approx. 412 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Leo I. AD 457-474. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.36 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 10th officina. Struck AD 457-circa 468. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield / Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross; star to right; I//CONOB. RIC X 605; Depeyrot 93/1. Lustrous, wavy flan. VF.


Estimate: 300 USD

Match 2:
Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 551Auction date: 29 November 2023
Lot number: 613

Price realized: 400 USD   (Approx. 366 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Leo I. AD 457-474. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.39 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 10th officina. Struck AD 457-circa 468. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield / Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross; star to right; I//CONOB. RIC X 605; Depeyrot 93/1. A few tiny edge marks. Near VF. Lot includes a David R. Sear Certificate of Authenticity.


Estimate: 300 USD

Match 3:
Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 558Auction date: 20 March 2024
Lot number: 701

Price realized: 450 USD   (Approx. 414 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Leo I. AD 457-474. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.36 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 10th officina. Struck AD 457-circa 468. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield / Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross; star to right; I//CONOB. RIC X 605; Depeyrot 93/1. Lustrous, wavy flan. VF.


Estimate: 300 USD

Match 4:
Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 562Auction date: 15 May 2024
Lot number: 781

Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot
Lot description:


Leo I. AD 457-474. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.47 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 7th officina. Struck AD 457-circa 468. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield / Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross; star to right; Z//CONOB. RIC X 605; Depeyrot 93/1. Lightly toned, scrape, minor scratches, edge marks. VF.

Ex Forvm Ancient Coins inventory SH42814.


Estimate: 300 USD

Match 5:
Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 551Auction date: 29 November 2023
Lot number: 607

Price realized: 450 USD   (Approx. 412 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Leo I. AD 457-474. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.39 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 2nd officina. Struck AD 457-circa 468. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield / Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross; star to right; B//CONOB. RIC X 605; Depeyrot 93/1. Some luster, a few light scratches, minor marks. VF.


Estimate: 300 USD