Leontius, an usurper in the reign of Zeno, who having assumed the purple in Syria, when he was soon afterwards taken prisoner by the imperial army, and beheaded at Constantinople AD 488. There are gold coins of Leonitius, on which he is styled D N LEONTIVS P F AVG. They are very rare.
Leontius, surnamed Isaurus from the birthplace of his family [now thought to have come from Syria], was the second usurper of the same name, and belonged to the patrician order. He employed the armies of Justinian II to overthrow that emperor, and to obtain his throne, AD 695. Absimarus, however, defeated him in Dalmatia, and cutting off his nose and ears, imprisoned him in a monastery, where he was put to death, together with Absimarus himself, on the restoration of Justinian II AD 705 [Justinian II, second reign].
On his coins which are gold, of the highest rarity, Leontius II is styled D LEONTI A. The unique third brass, published by Mionnett, is supposed to belong to Leontius I.