Lot 384
384
Solidus, 4.47g., Constantinople, DN ZENO ET LEO NOV CAES, helmeted bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman, rev. VICTORIA AVGGG Z, Victory standing left, holding long cross, star in right field, CONOB in exergue (RIC 906; Hahn 6;T.5; R.276 (same dies); PCR 1639 (same dies); Kent, NC 1959, pp.93-98, pl VIII, 14; Goodacre 1), good very fine, extremely rare
Solidus, 4.47g., Constantinople, DN ZENO ET LEO NOV CAES, helmeted bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman, rev. VICTORIA AVGGG Z, Victory standing left, holding long cross, star in right field, CONOB in exergue (RIC 906; Hahn 6;T.5; R.276 (same dies); PCR 1639 (same dies); Kent, NC 1959, pp.93-98, pl VIII, 14; Goodacre 1), good very fine, extremely rare

Details
Solidus, 4.47g., Constantinople, DN ZENO ET LEO NOV CAES, helmeted bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman, rev. VICTORIA AVGGG Z, Victory standing left, holding long cross, star in right field, CONOB in exergue (RIC 906; Hahn 6;T.5; R.276 (same dies); PCR 1639 (same dies); Kent, NC 1959, pp.93-98, pl VIII, 14; Goodacre 1), good very fine, extremely rare
Provenance
NFA auction XVIII, 1 April 1987, lot 627

Lot Essay

The NFA catalogue notes; This and the next coin belong to the most enigmatic series in the entire 5th centry coinage. Various attempts have been made to establish the true identities of the Zeno and Leo named on these coins. On the evidence of an altered die, of which the following tremissis is an example, Dr. Kent has demonstrated that these issues are contemporary with, or immediately following, the coinage of Basiliscus and Marcus. Accordingly, he suggests that the princes Zeno and Leo were younger brothers of Marcus, son of Basiliscus, who were raised to the rank of Caesar when Marcus was created Augustus and co-emperor by his father.