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| Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 132 | Auction date: 18 May 2026 |
| Lot number: 887 Price realized: 25,000 USD (Approx. 21,475 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Julius Nepos. AD 474-475/480. AV Solidus (18.5mm, 4.13 g, 6h). Ravenna mint. Struck AD 474-475. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman motif / Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross; R|V//COMOB. RIC X 3212; Lacam pl. 37, 9; Depeyrot 41/1; Ranieri 181; Biaggi 2388. Toned, clipped, edge marks. Good VF. Very rare. After the assassination of Valentinian III, the western Roman empire endured 20 years of chaos under a succession of ephemeral emperors, usurpers, and puppet rulers. Nominally the appointee and co-ruler with the emperor at Constantinople, the Roman emperors were in fact at the mercy of the Germans, Goths and Huns who, as magistri militum, or Masters of Soldiers, held the true reins of power. Emperors were deposed at will; Petronius Maximus in AD 455, Avitus the following year, Majorian in AD 461, Libius Severus in AD 465, Anthemius in AD 472, Olybrius the same year, and Glycerius in AD 474. Only Majorian and Anthemius had the blessings of the monarch of the east. Glycerius, although a moderately successful ruler, was replaced by Julius Nepos, the nephew of Leo I, and ordained bishop of Salona. Nepos was unable to restore order in Italy, and Leo's death later in AD 474 left him in an exposed position. The magister militum Orestes elevated his own son Romulus (Augustulus) to the purple, and Nepos fled Ravenna, his last outpost in Italy, and into exile in Dalmatia. The presumptive emperor came to know intense frustration when, in AD 476, Orestes and Romulus were overthrown by Odoacer, who declared the western kingdom no longer required a separate emperor. Nepos's entreaties for his restoration were ignored, although Zeno expressed his sympathy, and urged Odovacar to allow him to return to Ravenna. In fact, the true last "Roman" emperor lived in exile until AD 480, when he was murdered, supposedly on the orders of the bishop of Salona, the same Glycerius who had been deposed by Nepos in AD 474. Estimate: 1500 USD |  |
Match 1:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 132 | Auction date: 18 May 2026 |
| Lot number: 884 Price realized: 1,500 USD (Approx. 1,289 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Theodosius II. AD 402-450. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.46 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck AD 443-450. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman motif / Constantinopolis enthroned left, foot on prow, holding globus cruciger and scepter; shield to right side of throne; star to left; COMOB. RIC X 300; Depeyrot 84/1; Biaggi –. Toned with some luster. Near EF. Estimate: 750 USD |  |
Match 2:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 132 | Auction date: 18 May 2026 |
| Lot number: 862 Price realized: 2,000 USD (Approx. 1,718 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Constantius II. AD 337-361. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.46 g, 6h). Sirmium mint. Struck AD 355-361. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman motif / Roma enthroned facing, holding spear, and Constantinopolis enthroned left, foot on prow, holding transverse scepter, together holding between them a shield inscribed VOT/ XXXV/ MVLT/ XXXX in four lines; •SIRM*. RIC VIII 58; Depeyrot 11/1; Biaggi –. Toned, minor marks. Good VF. Very rare. Estimate: 750 USD |  |
Match 3:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 132 | Auction date: 18 May 2026 |
| Lot number: 864 Price realized: 3,500 USD (Approx. 3,007 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Constantius II. AD 337-361. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.41 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck AD 351-355. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with emperor dragging captive motif / Roma enthroned facing, holding spear, and Constantinopolis enthroned left, foot on prow, holding transverse scepter, together holding between them a shield inscribed VOT/ XXX/ MVLT/ XXXX in four lines; CONS. RIC VIII 96; Depeyrot 3/4; Biaggi 2141. Toned. EF. High relief. Rare. Estimate: 2000 USD |  |
Match 4:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Keystone Auction 17 | Auction date: 22 July 2026 |
| Lot number: 276 Price realized: 1,700 USD (Approx. 1,490 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Theodosius II. AD 402-450. AV Solidus (20.5mm, 4.30 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck AD 443-450. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield / Constantinopolis seated left, holding globus cruciger and scepter, foot on prow; shield to right; star to left; COMOB. RIC X 293; Depeyrot 84/1. Toned with some luster, thin dig on reverse. VF. From the W. Toliver Besson Collection. Ex 1930's Collection of Robert W. Hubel of Michigan (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 584, 2 April 2025), lot 857. Estimate: 400 USD |  |
Match 5:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 132 | Auction date: 18 May 2026 |
| Lot number: 863 Price realized: 2,500 USD (Approx. 2,148 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: Constantius II. AD 337-361. AV Solidus (21.5mm, 4.45 g, 8h). Constantinople mint. Struck AD 351-355. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman motif / Roma enthroned facing, holding spear, and Constantinopolis enthroned left, foot on prow, holding transverse scepter, together holding between them a shield inscribed VOT/ XXX/ MVLT/ XXXX in four lines; CONS. RIC VIII 96; Depeyrot 3/3; Biaggi 2144. Toned with some luster. EF. Estimate: 1500 USD |  |
