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Orbis Collectibles

RIC X Basiliscus and Marcus 1022

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 475–AD 476

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

Solidus in gold struck at Constantinople under Basiliscus, AD 475–AD 476, catalogued as RIC X Basiliscus and Marcus 1022. Obverse: Bust of Basiliscus or Marcus, helmeted, pearl-diademed, cuirassed, facing front, holding spear in right hand behind head and shield decorated with horseman on left arm.

Reverse: Basiliscus and Marcus, nimbate, draped, enthroned, facing front, each holding mappa in outer hand; star above; cross behind. Obverse legend: D N bASILISCI - EƮ MARC P AVG. Reverse legend: SALVS REI - PVBLICAE.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
2
Catalogue references
1

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Basiliscus seized the Eastern Roman throne from Emperor Zeno on 9 January 475 following a court conspiracy, ruling until August 476. His son Marcus was acclaimed caesar in 475 and subsequently promoted to augustus, reigning alongside his father as junior co-emperor. When Zeno regained Constantinople in late August 476, the family was exiled to Limnae in Cappadocia. This solidus, produced at Constantinople during their joint rule, belongs to the pure gold denomination introduced in the early 4th century to replace the aureus.

Physical characteristics

Material
Gold
Manufacture
Struck
Denomination
Solidus

Technical characteristics

Mint
Constantinople
Issuing authority
Basiliscus

Design

Obverse type
Bust of Basiliscus or Marcus, helmeted, pearl-diademed, cuirassed, facing front, holding spear in right hand behind head and shield decorated with horseman on left arm
Reverse type
Basiliscus and Marcus, nimbate, draped, enthroned, facing front, each holding mappa in outer hand; star above; cross behind
Obverse legend
D N bASILISCI - EƮ MARC P AVG
Reverse legend
SALVS REI - PVBLICAE

Identification

How to identify
RIC separates types by mint and officina marks, obverse legend and bust form, and reverse legend and type; check the exergue and field marks against the RIC number before accepting a match.
Type corpus record
https://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.10.bas-mar_e.1022
Catalogue reference
RIC X Basiliscus and Marcus 1022
Type corpus identifier
ric.10.bas-mar_e.1022
Source note
The type record is Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE), the American Numismatic Society's digital edition of Roman Imperial Coinage.

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Research required
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Research required

  • Nominal weight not transcribed from a primary reference
  • Diameter and die axis not transcribed
  • Mint mark and officina detail not transcribed
  • No rights-cleared photograph identified yet
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