Very Rare Rome Mint Anthemius – RIC and Lacam Plate Coin

Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1050. Estimate $10000.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $8750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Anthemius. AD 467-472. AV Solidus (4.38 g, 5h). Rome mint. Struck AD 471-472. D N ANTHEMI-VS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed facing bust, holding spear in right hand, on left arm a shield decorated with horseman motif / SALVS REI-P-V-BLICAE, Anthemius and Leo I, holding Victory on globe in right hand, standing facing, clasping hands; between them PAX within wreath surmounted by cross; R-M//COMOB. RIC X 2804 and pl. 62, 2804 = Lacam 30 and pl. CXI (this coin); Depeyrot 70/1; DOCLR -. EF, slight die shift on reverse. Very rare.

Ex Lanz 123 (30 May 2005), lot 981.

After the death of Libius Severus, the western half of the Roman Empire was without an emperor for over a year. The de facto power was wielded by Ricimer, and Leo was either too busy or did not feel there was a need to nominate an emperor. Matters changed, however, probably as a result of a Vandal raid into Greece, and Leo designated Procopius Anthemius emperor of the western provinces to deal with the Vandal menace issuing from Africa under Vandal king Gaiseric. The expedition against Gaiseric was a total failure from the start due to the incompetence of the joint commander from the East, Leo's brother-in-law Basiliscus. With the failure to defeat the Vandals and anti-Greek feelings in Rome, Anthemius was not well liked and eventually Olybrius, with the aid of Ricimer, usurped power. Anthemius was killed by the barbarian soldier Gundobald as he attempted to flee Rome.