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Julius Nepos. AD 474-475/480. AV Solidus (18.5mm, 4.13 g, 6h). Ravenna mint. Struck AD 474-475. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield decorated with horseman motif / Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross; R|V//COMOB. RIC X 3212; Lacam pl. 37, 9; Depeyrot 41/1; Ranieri 181; Biaggi 2388. Toned, clipped, edge marks. Good VF. Very rare.
After the assassination of Valentinian III, the western Roman empire endured 20 years of chaos under a succession of ephemeral emperors, usurpers, and puppet rulers. Nominally the appointee and co-ruler with the emperor at Constantinople, the Roman emperors were in fact at the mercy of the Germans, Goths and Huns who, as magistri militum, or Masters of Soldiers, held the true reins of power. Emperors were deposed at will; Petronius Maximus in AD 455, Avitus the following year, Majorian in AD 461, Libius Severus in AD 465, Anthemius in AD 472, Olybrius the same year, and Glycerius in AD 474. Only Majorian and Anthemius had the blessings of the monarch of the east. Glycerius, although a moderately successful ruler, was replaced by Julius Nepos, the nephew of Leo I, and ordained bishop of Salona. Nepos was unable to restore order in Italy, and Leo's death later in AD 474 left him in an exposed position. The magister militum Orestes elevated his own son Romulus (Augustulus) to the purple, and Nepos fled Ravenna, his last outpost in Italy, and into exile in Dalmatia. The presumptive emperor came to know intense frustration when, in AD 476, Orestes and Romulus were overthrown by Odoacer, who declared the western kingdom no longer required a separate emperor. Nepos's entreaties for his restoration were ignored, although Zeno expressed his sympathy, and urged Odovacar to allow him to return to Ravenna. In fact, the true last "Roman" emperor lived in exile until AD 480, when he was murdered, supposedly on the orders of the bishop of Salona, the same Glycerius who had been deposed by Nepos in AD 474.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.
CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session Three – Lot 588-888 will be held Tuesday morning, 19 May 2026 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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