Aelia Verina. Augusta, AD 457-484. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.48 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck under Leo I, AD 462-466.

Triton XXV
Lot: 1026. Estimated: $ 20 000

Roman Imperial, Gold

Sold For $ 20 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Aelia Verina. Augusta, AD 457-484. AV Solidus (21mm, 4.48 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck under Leo I, AD 462-466. AEL ЧERI NA AЧG, pearl-diademed and draped bust right, wearing necklace and earrings; manus Dei holding nimbus above / VICTORI A AVGGG, Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross with right hand; star in right field; CONOB. RIC X 607; MIRB 4; Depeyrot 93/2; DOCLR 593 var. (obv. legend). In NGC encapsulation 6055164-003, graded Ch XF, Strike 5/5, Surface: 3/5, wavy flan, edge marks.

Ex Moneta Imperii Romani Byzantini: The Collection of a Connoisseur (Stack’s, 12 January 2009), lot 3036; UBS Zurich Sale 28 (1991), lot 791.

Aelia Verina, the wife of Leo I, had an extraordinary personal history, plotting from time to time for and against her various relatives in numerous intrigues to control the succession or seize the throne. The very rare gold coinage in her name is attributed to two separate periods, an earlier issue struck in 462 or 466 and a later issue in 471 or 473. From the scant historical sources, Verina appears to have been the consummate imperial schemer who regularly instigated and switched sides in various deadly dynastic disputes without suffering any consequences for her actions. She retired to a nunnery in AD 480, but emerged in AD 484 for one final intrigue against her son-in-law Zeno. This, too, failed and Verina died in the aftermath; whether or not by violence is not recorded.

The final winners of all Triton XXV lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 11-12 January 2022. Triton XXV – Session Three – Roman Republican & Imperatorial Coinage through Byzantine Coinage will be held Wednesday morning, 12 January 2022 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 22.50% for all others.

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