SALVS REIPVBLICAE (18 january / 17 november 474)

Bust of Leo I facing, cuirassed, wearing a helmet with crest and a pearl diadem. Holding a spear passing behind his head with the right hand and a decorated shield with a horseman slaying an enemy, with the left hand.

Leo II on the left and Zeno on his right, both seated on throne. Leo II resting his feet on a step. A latin cross placed between their two heads. A star placed between REI and PVBLICAE.

Photo of a coin sold the 26/05/2014 by Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 78, lot 1270, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1996203, link to their website: https://www.arsclassicacoins.com/.

Variant with step, named AYC #4 i and not #4 i var as for the other officinas since I have not yet seen a coin without a step. The copy of the Kungelige Myntkabinett of Stockholm remains to be seen. Another coin with the same dies has been sold the 09/04/2014 by Auktionshaus H.D. Rauch GmbH, Auction 94, lot 1447.

I note that the letter B of CONOB is incomplete, it is a bad engraving and not a CONOR variant like the one I listed for Zeno. The officina letter is either badly engraved, engraved above another officina letter or a die break has created this dough around the letter. Difficult to examine on a simple photo.

On the obverse I noted ''Bust of Leo I'' because it is obvious that it is not a portrait of Leo II who is a child.