VICTORIA AVGGG (2nd reign, 476 / 491, 4th 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.

Photo of a coin sold the 29/05/2003 by Heritage Auctions, Auction 326, lot 10479, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=134596, link to their website: https://www.ha.com/.

Variant without jewels on the diadem and officina mark COMOB. ''TR mark'' in the reference indicate: Transformed mark. This coin is very special: it shares the same dies as the AYC #7 c var, RIC 928 where the mark on the reverse is CONOB. The marks therefore been transformed. There are cases in ancient times where the die was transformed. The die was heated and then worked when cold. The metal was repelled, which causes a depression with a higher field at the level of the corrected zone. The question is: what was the first mark? There is no sign of more pronounced wear on both coins. We must then find this depression to identify the correction. On the CNG copy where the mark is CONOB, the field looks very smooth and straight, same thing for the Heritage Auctions coin with the COMOB mark. A photo not being able to show all the reliefs, we can not conclude anything. It would be necessary to be able to analyze the coins in hands and also to certify their authenticity. I don't think this is a modern modification, it is irrelevant. It also seems more logical, if the antique modification is confirmed, that the original die was inscribed with CONOB. The associated obverse die corresponds to the style of Constantinople and AVGGG T .. is also unique to Constantinople. Transfer of dies to Rome? Difficult to imagine knowing the historical context. Or COMOB was registered in error and was then corrected. Here is the photo of the coin with the mark CONOB, AYC #7 c var, RIC 928:

Photo of a coin sold the 09/01/2007 by Triton X, lot 825, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=351562, link to their website: https://www.cngcoins.com/.

This variant with officinae  is always associated with this legend break on the obverse: P - ERP AVG (I have referenced two different obverse dies and associated with two different reverse dies). Break that is sometimes found on other officinas. (see comments and illustrations of the AYC #7 d, RIC 928.

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.