Zeno was an Eastern emperor during the waning days of the empire. His career was recorded through a series of endless plots against him which failed to oust him from power entirely. Indeed, he even served as emperor-in-exile during a revolt that briefly saw
Basiliscus rise to the throne in 475. He eventually recaptured the throne himself to resume a rocky relationship with the Western half of the empire as well as frequent domestic problems of every sort. Following the favorable resolution of the
Basiliscus affair he had ample time as well to watch the final collapse of the Western half of the empire. As he had no resources to contend with the Germanic tribesmen who were exerting ever more control over the former empire, he could do little more than accept the inevitable outcome. Although this made him nominally ruler of the entire Roman empire after the death of Julius
Nepos in 480, in practice he held no sway at all in any of the former Roman provinces. In the end, one of his most remarkable feats was the very fact that he was able to survive for so long in this strife-ridden age.
Zeno continues the currency policies of his political ancestors. He will introduce no new denominations, designs or any sort of alterations beyond the
ZENO on the legends where appropriate. As far as he was concerned, if it ain‟t broke, well, don‟t go breaking it.
As was the case with Leo and
Marcian before him, the
Solidus is easily available today for around $400-$600 each and Tremisses for about half that much. As was not the case with those two, however, bronzes have become rarer. Or, that is, rarer to find in a state that allows for positive identification. The one saving grace is that
Zeno, too, had a
monogram for use on his own AE4‟s which, thanks to their nature, make
attribution considerably easier. You might as well forget about trying to get one that has readable legends though. Those are truly
rare in that sort of condition and when offered for sale will easily rival the gold coins in cost.
Busts:
1) Diademed (pearls), draped and bearded
bust left, holding
mappa and
scepter 2) Diademed (pearls), draped and
cuirassed bust right
3) Helmeted, diademed,
cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and
shield 4) Helmeted, diademed, draped and
cuirassed bust right
5) Laureate
head right
Obverses:
1) DN
ZENO ET LEO NOV
CAES 2) DN
ZENO ET LIEO NOV
CAES 3) DN
ZENO N PE AG
4) DN
ZENO N PE VG
5) DN
ZENO PEPR AVG
6) DN
ZENO PER F AVG
7) DN
ZENO PERP AVG
8) DN
ZENO PERP F AV
9) DN
ZENO PERP F AVG
10) DN
ZENO PERPE AVG
11) DN
ZENO PERPET AVG
12) DN
ZENO PERT AVG
13) DN
ZENO PF AV
14) IMP
ZENO SEMPER AVG
15) INP ZEMP FELICISSIMO
SEN AVG Reverses:
1)
CONCORDIA P
2)
GLORIA ROMANORO
3) GLORORVS TERRAR
4) INVICTA
ROMA 5)
SALVS REIPVBLICE
6)
VICTORIA AVGG 7)
VICTORIA AVGGG 8)
VICTORIA AVGVSTORIVM
9)
VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM 10)
VOT XX MVLT XX
11) No
legend Types:
1)
Constantinopolis standing left, stepping on galley prow, holding
scepter and
cornucopia 2)
Eagle perched on branch,
cross above
3)
Legend SE CN
4)
Monogram I
5)
Monogram II
6)
Victory advancing forward, holding
wreath and
cross on globe.
7)
Victory advancing left, holding
labarum and dragging captive
8)
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and
palm.
9)
Victory advancing right, holding
wreath and
trophy.
10)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading VXX;
cuirass to left
11)
Victory seated right, holding
shield reading
XXXV;
cuirass to left
12)
Victory standing left on globe, holding
wreath and
palm.
13)
Victory standing left, holding
cross.
14)
Victory standing right, holding
cross.
15)
Wreath, Chi-Rho within
16)
Wreath,
cross within
17)
Wreath, SE CN within.
18)
Wreath, SRI / REI / RVL within
19)
Wreath, TOV/VIMV/MTI within.
20)
Wreath,
Victory advancing left, holding
wreath and dragging captive within.
Type also features vestigial
legend approximating DN LEON AVG
21)
Wreath, VOT / VMTI / LTIS within
22)
Zeno seated, facing, holding
mappa and
scepter with crossed tip.
23)
Zeno standing right, holding
cross and globe
24)
Zeno standing right, stepping on captive, holding
labarum and globe
25)
Zeno standing, facing, holding
labarum and
cross on globe.
26)
Zeno standing, facing, holding spear and resting hand on
shield.
Mints:
1)
Antioch 2)
Constantinopolis 3) Cyzicus
4) Mediolanum
5)
Nicomedia 6) Ravenna
7)
Roma 8)
Thessalonica
AU Solidus Reference(s) 1) B3, O07, R07, T13, M2 Exe: */CONOB
Officina at end of
reverse legend RIC X 905
2) B3, O07, R07, T13 Exe: */COMOB : symbol at end of
reverse legend RIC X 3205
AU Semissis 3) B2, O07, R06, T10, M2 Exe: */¤/CONOB
RIC X 913
AU Tremissis 4) B2, O07, R08, T06, M2 Exe: */CONOB
5) B2, O07, R09, T06, M2 Exe: */CONOB
RIC X 914
AR Siliqua 6) B5, O07, R11, T18, M2 Exe: CON
RIC X 944
AR ½ Siliqua 7) B2, O07, R11, T01, M4 M D across fields
RIC X 3616
AE1 8) B2, O14, R04, T09, M7 Exe: S/C/•XL•
Bust exe: •IIII•
RIC X 3667
AE3 9) B2, O03, R11, T20 ¤ in left
field 10) B2, O04, R11, T20 ¤ in left
field RIC X 949
11) B2, O07, R01, T24, M2
RIC X 948
12) B4, O03, R11, T20 ¤ in left
field RIC X 947
AE4 13) B2, O13, R11, T01, M4 M D across fields
RIC X 3616
14) B2, O13, R11, T04
RIC X 973
15) B2, O13, R11, T05
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