Important Ancient Coins

Odovacar (King of Italy, 476-493), In the name of Zeno I (474-491), Solidus, Rome, c. 474-6, pearl-diademed and helmeted bust facing, holding spear and shield, rev. VICTORIA AVGGG:, Victory standing left, holding jewelled long cross, COMOB in exergue, 4.43g/5h (RIC 3205 and 3651; Lacam pl. 42, 97 and pl. 50, 1; Depeyrot 78/2). Extremely fine and very rare £1,500-2,000

Solidi with the officina mark : (colon) at the end of the reverse legend are a suitable metaphor for the western Empire’s final Roman issues from 474 to 476 by the last western emperors Julius Nepos, Romulus Augustus and Odovacar, the leader of the foederati from 470, first king of Italy from 476 and the real power broker in the west. As protocol demanded, the whole series was made in association with imperial colleagues in the East, namely Leo II, Basiliscus and Zeno. For an in depth discussion on this coinage see G. Lacam, La fin de L’Empire Romain et le monnayage or en Italie, Lucerne 1983, pp. 578-827