ZENO GOLD SOLIDUS – IMMATIVE ISSUE IN THE NAME OF ZENO POSSIBLY STRUCK BY THEODORIC – CHOICE MINT STATE NGC GRADED ROMAN IMPERIAL COIN (Inv. 20165)

$4,950.00

20165. ROMAN EMPIRE. ZENO, AD 474–491.
Gold Solidus, 4.46 g, 20 mm. Imitative issue in the name of Zeno, perhaps struck under Theodoric.
Obv. D N ZENO PERP AVC, helmeted and cuirassed bust of Zeno three quarters right, holding spear and shield with horseman device. Rev. VICTORIA AVGGG I, Victory standing left, holding jeweled cross, star in right field, CONOR (?) in exergue.
Cf. RIC X 905; Lacam, La fin de L’Empire Romain et le monnayage or en Italie (Lucern, 1983), pp. 902–903, Classe III.A, citing a specimen from the Védrin hoard which appears to be similar stylistically and in handling of the legend.
NGC graded CHOICE MINT STATE, Strike 5/5, Surface 5/5, exceptional luster and quality, the rendition of the final letter in CONOB exceedingly unusual and as such possibly unique.

Although this coin has been encapsulated by NGC as a regular issue of Zeno, there are peculiarities in the style and especially the final letter in the mint’s name CONOB. Here it seems rendered as an P or an unfinished R where the front slash appears missing. The CONOR rendition is the hallmark of imitative issues in the name of Zeno struck by Theodoric. Guy Lacam wrote the study on these later emissions and certainly this piece appears to fit among those he assigns to Theodoric, for which see citation above.