Nomos 8

Zeno (but possibly Ostrogothic?). Second reign, AD 476-491. Solidus (Gold, 20mm, 4.50 g 6), Constantinople (or elsewhere?). D N ZENO PERP AVG Diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust of Zeno facing, his head turned slightly to the right, holding spear in his right hand and with a shield over his left shoulder. Rev. VICTORIA AVCCCϵ / CONOB Victory standing left, holding long, jeweled cross; to right, star. DOCLRC -. Lacam -. RIC 905. A clear and well struck example. Extremely fine.

From a northern European collection, acquired in Germany.

This coin was purchased by its owner as being an Ostrogothic issue, struck in the name of Zeno (ostensibly by Theodoric), but no reference was supplied to prove this. While the types are very clear and linear, and also rather neater than the usual Constantinopolitan issues, this is not enough to ascribe them to another mint. However, there is one very strange and unexpected feature: on all the usual coins of this type we see a simple taenia or ribbon binding up Victory’s robes just beneath her breasts. This is sometimes shown as having a single jewel at the center but it is often just a plain band; yet on this coin there is a large bow, which is unlike anything found anywhere else. Since it is clear that mint engravers were not encouraged to innovate when they worked in imperial mints, there is, thus, a possibility that this is actually a very finely made ‘Barbaric’ issue, produced either in the Balkans or Italy.