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VERINA (Aelia), wife of Leo I (A.D.457 - 474), by whom she had two daughters, one, Ariadne, was married to Zeno and the other, Leontia, was married to Marcian, son of Anthemius. After the death of her husband, Verina assisted at the coronation of her grandson, Leo II, son of Ariadne and Zeno, to whom Leo I had bequeathed the Empire. Verina then conspired against Zeno and was banished and confined in the fort of Papurius in Cilicia, from which she was released, about A.D.484, by the consul Illus, who defeated the army of Zeno near Antioch. She was induced to crown Leontius, an officer of the army at Tarsus, however, Illus soon sent her back to Papurius, where she died shortly afterwards.
The following coins of Aelia Verina are known:-
1. Gold Solidus. Obverse: AEL VERINA AVG. Diademed bust of Verina facing right, hand holding wreath above. Reverse: VICTORIA AVGGG followed by A, B, O or Q. Victory standing facing left, holding a long cross; in right field, star; in exergue, CONOB.
2. Gold Tremissis. Obverse: AEL VERINA AVG. Bust of Verina facing right. Reverse: Cross within laurel wreath; in exergue, CONOB. (Illustrated above).
3. AE 2. Obverse: Same as number 1. Reverse: SALVS REIPVBLICAE. Victory seated facing right, before a pillar, surmounted by a shield, on which she is inscribing a Christogram; in exergue, CON.