Obolos 18

Ricimer, Patrician and Master of Soldiers, 457-472. Solidus (Gold, 21 mm, 4.11 g, 5 h), Rome, 461-467 or 465-467. D N LEO PERPE-TVVS AVG Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Leo I to right. Rev. VICTORIA AVGGG / R - M / CONOB Emperor, crowned and in military dress, standing facing, holding a long cross in his right hand and Victory on a globe in his left, and treading on a human-headed serpent with his right foot. Depeyrot 52/2 (under Libius Severus). Lacam pl.16-2, 4 = Monnaies et Médailles 43 (1970), 530 (same dies). RIC 2518 (during the interregnum). Extremely rare. Various marks, otherwise, about very fine.

From the Trausnitz Collection, acquired from Aufhäuser on 21 June 1988 (inv. no: 832074).

The last years of the Roman Empire in the West were ones of constant jockeying for power between a variety of powerful generals, usually of Germanic origin, and a number of ephemeral emperors who were usually assassinated if they were too competent, and also if they were not. The most important of all these generals was Ricimer (405-472), who was effectively the ruler of what remained of the Western Empire from the later 450s until his death. There are minor bronze nummi that appear to bear his monogram but no other coins do; however, a number of pieces, specifically this issue in the name of Leo I, the eastern emperor, almost certainly have to be attributed to him; for a good explanation of this, see the commentaries to the solidus that appeared as Triton XI (2008), 1049 and then as NAC 56 (2010), 507. As such this coin has to have been struck either during the reign of Libius Severus (461-465) or during the interregnum that lasted 18 months between the death of Libius Severus and the ascension of Anthemius in March 467.