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Orbis Collectibles

RIC X Leo II and Zeno 806

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

AD 474

Issuing entity

Roman Empire

Semissis in gold struck at Constantinople under Leo II, AD 474, catalogued as RIC X Leo II and Zeno 806. Obverse: Bust of Leo II or Zeno, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed, right.

Reverse: Victory, winged, draped, seated right on cuirass with shield behind, supporting shield inscribed XXXX on her left knee, to which she points; star in left field; (rev.☧) in right field. Obverse legend: D N LEO EƮ Z-ENO PP AVG. Reverse legend: VICTORIA AVGG.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
2
Photograph views
3
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

Leo II 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 Senate raised Leo II's father, the Isaurian general Zeno, to co-emperor. The father and son co-ruled briefly from Constantinople until Leo II died of illness later in 474, leaving Zeno as sole ruler. This semissis was struck in gold at Constantinople during their joint reign.

Physical characteristics

Material
Gold
Manufacture
Struck
Denomination
Semissis

Technical characteristics

Mint
Constantinople
Issuing authority
Leo II

Design

Obverse type
Bust of Leo II or Zeno, pearl-diademed, draped, cuirassed, right
Reverse type
Victory, winged, draped, seated right on cuirass with shield behind, supporting shield inscribed XXXX on her left knee, to which she points; star in left field; (rev.☧) in right field
Obverse legend
D N LEO EƮ Z-ENO PP AVG
Reverse legend
VICTORIA AVGG

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.806
Catalogue reference
RIC X Leo II and Zeno 806
Type corpus identifier
ric.10.leo_ii-zen_e.806
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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