Sale: CNG 66, Lot: 1662. Estimate $2500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 19 May 2004.  Sold For $2500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ZENO and LEO, Caesars. 475-476 AD. AV Solidus (4.38 gm). Constantinople mint. D N ZENO ET L-EO NOV CAES, pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman spearing fallen enemy / VICTORI-A AVGGG, Victory standing left, holding jeweled cross; star in right field; G//CONOB. RIC X 906; Deypeyrot 107/1; cf. DOCLR 628 (tremissis). Same obverse die as Triton IV, lot 751. Good VF. Extremely rare. ($2500)

This coin belongs to the most enigmatic series in the entire fifth century AD coinage. Various attempts have been made to establish the true identities of Zeno and Leo. On the evidence of an altered die, J. P. C. Kent, in his article "Zeno and Leo, the Most Noble Caesars" (NumChron 1959, pp. 93-98, pl. VIII) has demonstrated that this issue is contemporary with, or immediately follows, the coinage of Basiliscus and Marcus. Accordingly, he suggests that the princes Zeno and Leo were younger brothers of Marcus, son of Basiliscus, and were raised to the rank of Caesar when Marcus was created Augustus and co-emperor by his father.