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Basiliscus. AD 475-476. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.48 g, 6h). Uncertain mint. D N ЬASILIS CЧS P P AVC (Ч retrograde), pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear and shield / VICTORI A AVCCC, Victory standing left, holding long, jeweled cross in right hand; star to right; CONOR. RIC X 1003 var. (CONOB); Lacam –, but cf. Classe I, Type 1 (Theoderic in name of Zeno [for mintmark]); Depeyrot 101/1 var.(same); DOCLR 607 var.(same); Biaggi –. Lustrous. Choice EF. Extremely rare.
From the S & S Collection.
Based on the mintmark CONOR in the exergue of issues in the name of Zeno, Lacam assigned them to the reign of the Ostrogothic king Theoderic. M.A. Metlich, however, in his study of the Ostrogothic coinage (COI), states that no solidi in the name of Zeno can be attributed to Theoderic, implying that issues with CONOR must be official coinages of the emperor. In fact, P. Grierson noted a Zeno with Leo tremissis with the CONOR mintmark in Dumbarton Oaks (DOCLR 628), which he assigned to Constantinople. While CONOR is suggestive of an unofficial or imitative issue, examples in the name of Zeno with this mintmark are recorded with one of seven different officina letters – A, B, Γ, Δ, Є, Z, and Θ. So many officina letters are unknown in contemporary Germanic issues that imitate imperial coinage, and argue instead for a well-structured official western mint whose identification is not yet certain. Our coin, in the name of Basiliscus and with the mintmark found on issues of Zeno, offers tangible evidence for such a mint scenario, since Germanic imitations in the name of Basiliscus are unknown.
The final winners of all Triton XXVI lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 10-11 January 2023.
Triton XXVI – Session Three – Lots 674-990 will be held Wednesday morning, 11 January 2023 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.
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