Sale: CNG 67, Lot: 1823. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 22 September 2004.  Sold For $3750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ZENO. Second Reign, 476-491 AD. Æ 40 Nummi (14.25 gm). Rome mint. Struck 477 AD? IMP ZENO SEMPER A[VG], laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / IMVICT-A ROMA, S C across field, Victory advancing right, holding trophy and wreath; •XL• in exergue. RIC X 3667; Wroth (BMCV) pg. 101, 5. VF for issue, dark green patina. Very rare. ($1000)

From the Garth R. Drewry Collection. Ex Stack's (3-5 May 1984), lot 1842.

The precise dating and rationale for this, the last "Roman" bronze of the mint of Rome, cannot be determined from the evidence known. Odovacar had removed the last emperor in Rome, Romulus Augustus, in 476, seeing no need for a separate western emperor. Thus this piece could declare his continuing loyalty to Zeno, the eastern emperor. The IIII below the bust might represent the fourth year of Zeno's reign (477). Alternately, this piece could be regarded as the beginning of the Ostrogothic monetary reforms of the 490's which saw the reintroduction of large circulating bronzes and probably spurred the later reform of Anastasius around 498. The IIII would then be the fourth officina of the mint. This piece can be regarded as either the last of the Roman bronzes or the first of the Byzantine folles.