Zeno. Second reign, AD 476-491. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.44 g, 6h). Constantinople mint(?), 1st officina. VF.

Electronic Auction 566
Lot: 760.
Closing Date: Jul 17 2024 10:00 ET

Roman Imperial, Gold

Estimate: $ 300

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Zeno. Second reign, AD 476-491. AV Solidus (19.5mm, 4.44 g, 6h). Constantinople mint(?), 1st officina. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield / Victory standing left, holding long cross; star to right; ΓA (or Λ)//CONOB. Cf. RIC X 910 and 929 (for similar issue); cf. Depeyrot 108/1 (same). Toned, minor graffito, a couple thin scrapes and two small attempted piercing marks on reverse. VF.

From the Richard J. Sullivan Collection. Ex Heritage New York Signature Sale 3030 (6 January 2014), lot 23995.

A most interesting reverse legend ending in either ΓA or ΓΛ. Two examples are known with this reverse die: 1) Heritage New York Signature Sale 3030 (6 January 2014), lot 23995 (this coin); 2) Numismatik Naumann 108 (3 October 2021), lot 1071 = Leu Web 6 (9 December 2018), lot 1216. It should be noted that the Naumann/Leu example is struck from a different obverse die. The additional letters are certainly too carefully engraved on the reverse for this to be an error on the die engraver’s part. Additionally, the style of the dies are distinctly eastern; this should rule out any notion of them belonging to a western mint or being Ostrogothic issues struck in the name of Zeno. Lacam believed that the issues of Zeno solidi marked RV and T were products of the Ravenna and Ticinum mints respectively. While the attribution of the issues marked RV (which are additionally distinctly western in style and would have been struck in the name of Zeno) to Ravenna should not be overly controversial, the assignment of the issues marked T to Ticinum has not been universally accepted. Kent rejected the suggestion of the T issues belonging to Ticinum and assigned some of them to his fourth Constantinopolitan issue instead (RIC X, p. 308).

With this example marked with a gamma followed by what is presumably a truncated 1st officina, one may speculate as to the significance or lack thereof of this interesting legend ending. Given the precedent of these additional letters perhaps signifying subsidiary mints as on the RV and possibly T issues, which are indeed sometimes followed by an officina letter, this coin and its few peers are indeed unusual. Furthermore, the style on this coin is very well done and appears professionally executed in eastern fashion. The additional letters are well cut and unlikely to be misread. With the limited information available, it is not possible to make a determination regarding this interesting reverse die at this time, but given the few examples known and the potential for further research, it is likely to receive some future attention and discussion. This specimen is additionally the nicest example of the two known.

Closing Date and Time: 17 July 2024 at 14:13:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.