Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Herakles Auction 1Auction date: 14 October 2024
Lot number: 95

Price realized: 1,900 EUR   (Approx. 2,079 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Basiliscus AD 475-476. Late autumn AD 475-August AD 476. Constantinople, 9th officina
Solidus AV

21 mm, 4,47 g

D N bASILISCI Et MARC P AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing, head slightly right, spear in right hand over shoulder, shield decorated with horseman motif in left / VICTORIA AVGGG Θ, Victory standing facing, head left, long jeweled cross with diagonal crossbar in right hand; star in right field, CONOB in exergue.

Hints of double striking, otherwise, lustrous and extremely fine

Depeyrot 105/2; RIC X 1024.

Basiliscus, who ruled as Eastern Roman Emperor from AD 475 to 476, had a brief and turbulent reign characterized by political instability, military failure, and religious controversy. He came to power after leading a successful coup against Emperor Zeno, his predecessor and eventual successor. Basiliscus was the brother of Empress Verina, the widow of Emperor Leo I, which gave him significant influence in the imperial court.
In January AD 475, with the support of Verina and factions within Constantinople that opposed Zeno's Isaurian background, Basiliscus managed to drive Zeno from the throne. Zeno fled to Isauria, allowing Basiliscus to take control of the Eastern Roman Empire. Upon ascending to the throne, Basiliscus quickly sought to secure his power by issuing coins and presenting himself as the legitimate emperor.
However, Basiliscus' reign was plagued by multiple problems. His most significant misstep was his involvement in the theological disputes of the time, particularly regarding the Monophysite controversy. In an attempt to win support from Monophysites, who believed in the single divine nature of Christ, Basiliscus issued a circular letter (the Enkyklikon) that rejected the Council of Chalcedon's definition of Christ's dual nature (both divine and human). This move alienated the powerful Orthodox Christian community, especially in Constantinople, and led to widespread opposition, including from the influential Patriarch of Constantinople, Acacius.
In addition to religious unrest, Basiliscus also faced military failures. His inability to manage the empire's external threats, particularly the growing power of the Ostrogoths and the Vandals, further weakened his standing. His most notorious failure was a disastrous military expedition against the Vandals, a campaign that had been planned earlier but ended in a complete debacle, further eroding his support among the military and the public.
By August AD 476, Zeno had gathered enough support, particularly from Isaurian loyalists and those dissatisfied with Basiliscus' rule, to reclaim the throne. Zeno returned to Constantinople, and Basiliscus was betrayed by his own supporters. Basiliscus and his family were captured, exiled to Cappadocia, and eventually executed by being left to die of starvation.
Basiliscus' brief and chaotic rule is often seen as a failed usurpation during a time of deep instability in the Eastern Roman Empire. His downfall marked the return of Zeno to power and the continuation of a more stable government in the East, just as the Western Roman Empire was coming to an end with the fall of Romulus Augustulus in AD 476.




Starting price: 750 EUR

Match 1:
Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Herakles Auction 2Auction date: 3 March 2025
Lot number: 131

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


Migration Period
The Ostrogoths. Uncertain mint AD 491-518. Pseudo-Imperial issue in the name of Anastasius I.
Solidus AV

19 mm, 4,50 g

D N ANAƧTAƧIVƧ PERP AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman and fallen enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG ᗺ (sic, retrograde), Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, CONOB in exergue.

Extremely Fine

Not in the standard references; cf. Roma Auction 27, Lot 827.





Starting price: 2000 EUR

Match 2:
Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Herakles Auction 2Auction date: 3 March 2025
Lot number: 121

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


Roman Imperial
Valentinian III AD 425-455. Struck AD 425-429. Constantinople
Solidus AV

21 mm, 4,49 g

D N VALENTINIANVS P F AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three-quarters facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / SALVS REIPVBLICAE B, Theodosius II and Valentinian III seated facing, both nimbate, each holding mappa in right hand, cruciform sceptre in left; star above, CONOB in exergue.

Nearly Mint State

RIC X 242; Depeyrot 79/2.

Valentinian III was Western Roman Emperor from AD 425 to 455, a reign marked by the empire's continued decline and growing dependency on barbarian generals. Born in AD 419, Valentinian was the son of Constantius III and Galla Placidia, sister of Emperor Honorius. His ascent to the throne was largely due to his mother's influence and the support of the Eastern Roman Emperor, Theodosius II.
Valentinian became emperor at the age of six after the defeat of the usurper Joannes, with his reign initially governed by Galla Placidia as regent. Throughout his life, Valentinian wielded little actual power, as military and political authority in the Western Roman Empire was increasingly dominated by influential generals like Aetius and others.
During Valentinian's reign, the Western Empire faced severe external pressures. The Vandals under King Geiseric seized Carthage in AD 439, establishing a powerful kingdom in North Africa and cutting off vital grain supplies to Rome. The empire also faced incursions from the Huns, led by Attila. Aetius, the empire's most capable general, managed to halt Attila's advance at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains in AD 451, one of the last major victories of the Western Roman military.
Valentinian's reign was marred by internal instability and intrigue. His relationship with Aetius deteriorated in his later years, culminating in Valentinian personally murdering the general in AD 454, reportedly fearing that Aetius sought to usurp him. This act destabilized the government, as Aetius' death left the empire without its most competent defender.
In AD 455, Valentinian was assassinated in a conspiracy likely orchestrated by disaffected members of his court and factions loyal to Aetius. His death marked the end of the Theodosian dynasty in the West. Shortly thereafter, the Vandals sacked Rome, further underscoring the rapid disintegration of imperial authority.
Valentinian III is often remembered as a weak and ineffectual ruler whose reign saw the Western Roman Empire move closer to its eventual collapse. While external pressures played a significant role in the empire's decline, Valentinian's inability to effectively govern or manage the internal dynamics of his court contributed to the fragmentation and vulnerability of the Western Empire.



Starting price: 1500 EUR

Match 3:
Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Herakles Auction 2Auction date: 3 March 2025
Lot number: 116

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


Roman Imperial
Honorius AD 393-423. Struck AD 420-422 . Constantinople
Solidus AV

21 mm, 4,45 g

D N HONORIVS P F AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three-quarters facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman motif / VOT XX MVLT XXX I, Victory standing to left, holding long jewelled cross; CONOB in exergue.

Nearly Mint State

Depeyrot 74/1; RIC X 218.

Honorius was Western Roman Emperor from AD 393 to 423, ascending to the throne at the age of eight as the son of Emperor Theodosius I and Aelia Flaccilla. His long but largely ineffective reign coincided with the continued decline of the Western Roman Empire, marked by external invasions, internal instability, and the loss of key territories.
When Honorius became emperor, the Roman Empire had recently been divided between his family: his older brother, Arcadius, ruled the Eastern Empire, while Honorius inherited the Western half. His early reign was dominated by the regency of Stilicho, a capable general and statesman who defended the empire against numerous threats. Stilicho's victories included repelling invasions by barbarian groups such as the Visigoths and Vandals, and he played a key role in stabilizing Honorius' rule.
However, Honorius was largely a figurehead, relying heavily on Stilicho and other advisors. In AD 408, Honorius, influenced by court intrigue, had Stilicho executed on charges of treason. Stilicho's death weakened the Western Empire's military defenses, leaving it vulnerable to the Visigoths under Alaric. This culminated in the sack of Rome in AD 410, a shocking event that symbolized the empire's decline and profoundly impacted the Roman world.
Honorius' reign also saw the loss of vital provinces. Britain was effectively abandoned around AD 410 due to the empire's inability to defend it. In addition, other regions, including Spain and parts of Gaul, fell to various barbarian groups. Honorius' court, based in the secure city of Ravenna, remained largely detached from these crises, with Honorius himself often appearing indifferent to the empire's deteriorating state.
Despite his limited personal involvement in governance, Honorius issued decrees aimed at strengthening Christianity within the empire, including laws against pagan practices. His reign thus contributed to the continued Christianization of the Roman state.
Honorius died in AD 423 without an heir, plunging the Western Roman Empire into a brief succession crisis resolved by the elevation of Valentinian III. Honorius' legacy is one of weakness and passivity, his reign a pivotal period in the Western Roman Empire's collapse as it struggled to confront the growing pressures of barbarian invasions and internal disarray.



Starting price: 1500 EUR

Match 4:
Numismatica Ars Classica > Autumn Sale 2024Auction date: 30 September 2024
Lot number: 1110

Price realized: 550 CHF   (Approx. 652 USD / 584 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Anastasius, 11 April 491 – 1 July 518
Solidus, 491-498, AV 21 mm, 4.47 g. D N ANASTA – SIVS P P AVG Helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust three-quarters facing, cross on helmet, holding spear and shield with horseman and enemy motif. Rev. VICTORI – A AVGGGI Victory standing l., supporting long jewelled cross; in r. field, star and in exergue, CONOB. DO 4b. MIBE 4a. Sear 3.
A graffito on reverse, otherwise extremely fine / about extremely fine

From the collection of a Mentor.

Estimate: 500 CHF

Match 5:
Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 150Auction date: 2 December 2024
Lot number: 929

Price realized: 950 CHF   (Approx. 1,070 USD / 1,022 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Leo I, 457 – 474
Solidus, Constantinople circa 462 or 466, AV 21 mm, 4.47 g. D N LEO PE – RPET AVG Helmeted, pearl- diademed and cuirassed bust facing three-quarters r., holding spear and shield with horseman and enemy motif. Rev. VICTORI – A AVCCC H Victory standing l., supporting long jewelled cross; in r. field, star and in exergue, CONOB. LRC 517. RIC 605. MIRB 3b. Depeyrot 93/1.
Good extremely fine

Estimate: 500 CHF