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Orbis Collectibles

RIC X Leo II and Zeno 803

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 474

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

Solidus in gold struck at Constantinople under Leo II, AD 474, catalogued as RIC X Leo II and Zeno 803. Obverse: Bust of Leo II or Zeno, helmeted, pearl-diademed, cuirassed, facing front, holding spear in right hand behind head and shield decorated with horseman on left arm.

Reverse: Leo II and Zeno, nimbate, draped, enthroned, facing, each holding mappa in right hand; star above; cross behind. Obverse legend: D N LEO EƮ Z-ENO PP 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

The solidus was a highly pure gold coin introduced in the early 4th century to replace the aureus in the Later Roman Empire. Leo II, the son of the Isaurian general Zeno and Ariadne, became sole emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire on 18 January 474 following the death of his grandfather Leo I. On 29 January 474, the Byzantine Senate made Zeno co-emperor alongside his young son. This coin was struck at Constantinople during their brief joint rule in AD 474 before Leo II died later that year.

Physical characteristics

Material
Gold
Manufacture
Struck
Denomination
Solidus

Technical characteristics

Mint
Constantinople
Issuing authority
Leo II

Design

Obverse type
Bust of Leo II or Zeno, helmeted, pearl-diademed, cuirassed, facing front, holding spear in right hand behind head and shield decorated with horseman on left arm
Reverse type
Leo II and Zeno, nimbate, draped, enthroned, facing, each holding mappa in right hand; star above; cross behind
Obverse legend
D N LEO EƮ Z-ENO PP 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.leo_ii-zen_e.803
Catalogue reference
RIC X Leo II and Zeno 803
Type corpus identifier
ric.10.leo_ii-zen_e.803
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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