VICTORIA AVGGG (2nd reign, 476 / 491, 3rd issue)

Bust of Zeno facing, cuirassed, wearing 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.

An angel standing left, holding a long latin cross decorated with jewels. Behind her on the right, a star.

Coin referenced in the RIC X, page 307, n° 910. Source: Abrittus hoard. To be confirmed as no illustration is available and that the RIC X notes ''may belong to the first reign''.

Variant with jewells on the diadem. In addition to the copy quoted by the RIC X, I note a coin preserved at the Bristish Museum, Museum number G3,RIG.505, ex: George III, King of the United Kingdom, link to the sale: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_G3-RIG-505. The coin has an archaic style, especially on the reverse. Does it come from the mint of Constantinople? Germanic imitation of very good quality? It seems, given the political context of the time, impossible to determine what this coin is, given that the ''official'' engravers were themselves Germanic. However, almost all of the strikes are still very close to the normal issues produced by Roman or Romanized engravers of the 5th century. This coin is therefore out of this category.

The coins of the third issue are recognizable by their style. The bust is similar to that of the first two issues and that of Basiliscus. Be careful though because many coins are between the style of Basiliscus and the one found later (RIC 929 and 930 with a wider face with long and wide nose, looking more slightly to the right).

On the reverse I noted ''Angel'' in the description. We can also say that this is Victoria but the image of the victory at that time had indeed become that of an angel symbolizing the Christian victory.