Sale: Triton VII, Lot: 1068. Estimate $1500.  Closing Date: Monday, 12 January 2004.  Sold For $1900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BASILISCUS and MARCUS. 475-476 AD. AV Solidus (4.48 gm). Constantinople mint. D N BASILISCI ET MARC P AVG, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman spearing a fallen enemy / VICTORI-A AVGGG, Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross; star in right field; G/CONOB. RIC X 1024; Depeyrot 105/4; DOCLR 622; MIRB 8. Superb EF. Rare. ($1500)

Little is known of Marcus, the eldest son of the usurper Basiliscus ­ the same Basiliscus who earlier had commanded the 1,100-ship armada of Leo I that was completely destroyed by the Vandals. The accession of Zeno in 474 AD (see above) was not met with universal joy, and it was comparatively easy for Basiliscus, the brother of Aelia Verina (who had arranged Zeno’s rise to power, but who soon had come to regret her act), to plot for the throne himself. Through a series of clever schemes, Basiliscus won the title of Augustus after Zeno had been tricked into fleeing Constantinople. Basiliscus hailed his wife Aelia Zenonis Augusta, and late in the summer of 475 AD he raised his eldest son Marcus to the rank of Caesar; then a few weeks later to Augustus. Basiliscus’ duplicitous actions along the way, however, had made both Zeno and Aelia Verina his enemies, and his reign lasted barely a year before he and his unfortunate son were deposed by Zeno.