Court Style Anthemius

CNG 88, Lot: 1453. Estimate $7500. Sold for $8000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Anthemius. AD 467-472. AV Solidus (22mm, 4.35 g, 6h). “Court” style. Rome mint. Struck AD 468. D N ANTHE MIVS P F AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and round shield decorated with soldier on horseback riding right / SALVS R EIP VBLICAE, two emperors, crowned and in military dress, standing facing, each holding a spear and holding between them a globus cruciger; in field between, IX monogram; CORMOB. RIC X 2823; Lacam 71; Depeyrot 61/1. EF. Very rare. A remarkably well-preserved example.

From the O. Ulrich-Bansa Collection. Ex Lanz 141 (26 May 2008), lot 862; acquired from A. Hess in 1936.

After the death of Libius Severus, the western half of the Roman Empire was without an emperor for over a year. The power was wielded de facto 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 their 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.