| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Herakles Auction 1 | Auction date: 14 October 2024 |
| Lot number: 94 Price realized: 2,200 EUR (Approx. 2,408 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Zeno AD 474-491. Pseudo-Imperial issue. Uncertain mint, 10th officina Solidus AV 19 mm, 4,28 g D N ZENO PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly to right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VICTORIA AVGGG I, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue. extremely fine For prototype, cf. RIC X 911 and 930; Depeyrot 108/1. Zeno, who ruled as Eastern Roman Emperor from AD 474 to 491, had a tumultuous reign marked by internal revolts, religious controversies, and significant political challenges that shaped the future of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire. Originally named Tarasicodissa, Zeno was of Isaurian origin, from the mountainous region of southern Anatolia. He rose to prominence as a military commander and eventually married into the imperial family by wedding Ariadne, the daughter of Emperor Leo I. Zeno first became emperor in AD 474 after the death of his son, Leo II, who had briefly reigned before dying young. Zeno's early years as emperor were filled with instability. Almost immediately, he faced significant opposition from the Roman aristocracy and military factions who resented his Isaurian background. In AD 475, Zeno was deposed by Basiliscus, a rival who temporarily seized the throne. Zeno fled to Isauria but managed to return to Constantinople in AD 476, reclaiming power and deposing Basiliscus. Zeno's reign coincided with the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476, when the last Western emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by the Germanic chieftain Odoacer. Zeno formally recognized Odoacer as the ruler of Italy but continued to claim authority over the Western Empire, maintaining a nominal unity between the Eastern and Western halves of the empire. Zeno's reign was also marked by religious disputes, particularly regarding the relationship between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Monophysites, who believed in the single divine nature of Christ. To ease tensions, Zeno issued the Henotikon in AD 482, a religious edict intended to reconcile Orthodox Christians and Monophysites. While it temporarily maintained peace, it ultimately caused more division, leading to a schism with the Roman papacy known as the Acacian Schism. Despite these challenges, Zeno's reign is considered crucial in maintaining the stability of the Eastern Roman Empire during a volatile period. His ability to survive multiple revolts and internal divisions helped solidify the strength of the Eastern Empire, which would endure for centuries after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Starting price: 500 EUR |  |
