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

D N ENO – PERP AVG

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.

Photo of a coin sold the 27/06/2016 by Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 423, lot 388, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=7758865, link to their website: https://www.cngcoins.com/.

Variant with jewells on the diadem and the letter Z of ZENO inverted. A similar coin is listed by RIC X on page 307 in note to n° 910 (officina ). The RIC does not give the source or photo. What was the mark of this coin? CONOB? CONOB / R? CONOR? In addition, the coin shown here shows an Z officina with the form of an H ... Z or H? Given the orientation, I classify this officina as Z. ''obv var'' is noted in the reference so as not to be confused with ''var'' which simply indicates an absence of jewels on the diadem.

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.