VICTORIA AVGGG (2nd reign, 476 / 491, 3rd issue)
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.
Marks
Photo of a coin sold the 28/08/2018 by Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 415, lot 537, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4776602, link to their website: https://www.cngcoins.com/.
Variant with jewels on the diadem, the bar of the officina letter in a vertical position and inverted letter Z of ZENO. Similar coin is listed in the RIC X page 307 in note of the n°910, source: Stockholm, Kungelige Myntkabinett. I list this coin as ''obv var'' not to be confused with the simple variant without jewels on the diadem (noted ''var'' for the other officinas), if such a coin appear. Regarding the mark, we can consider that the letter B is a corrected R (see AYC # 6) but I still classify this coin as a CONOB mark because the letter looks more like a badly inscribed B. The coin illustrated in the RIC X plate 30 has the same reverse die but a different obverse die We therefore have at least two obverse dies with this reversed letter Z associated with the same dispensary and the same reverse die.
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.