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VICTORIA AVGGG (2nd reign, 476 / 491, 5th issue)

Reference : AYC #9 e var, RIC 930
Weight: 4.48 grs
Metal: Gold
Diameter: ?
Scarcity: Scarce
Type:

Obverse

Reverse

D N ZENO – 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.

VICTORI - A AVGGG

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

Marks

S
CONOB
Numéro :

One coin sold the 29/10/2003 by Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 376, lot 1112, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=151521.

Variant without jewels on the diadem and with the officina letter inclined. I note that the officina letter S, is seen in different orientations. On all the legend breaks, variants of jewels. Letter inclined, inclined and inverted, in upright position.. The RIC X referenced the officina letter S and , I think it was the letter S in the correct sense and following the same sense as the rest of the legend,  indicating its retrograde version. Likewise, I note these variations of orientation of the letter S and add the variation in upright position. This little detail perhaps indicating a particular series.

I note two coins sharing the same obverse die but two different reverse dies with two different officinas. The first coin with officina devil (AYC #9 c var, RIC 930):

Photo of a coin sold the 17/09/2015 by Heritage Auctions, Auction 3042, lot 29527, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2619470, link to their website: https://www.ha.com/.

Here is the coin with officina S:

Photo of a coin sold the 17/09/2015 by Heritage Auctions, Auction 3042, lot 29256, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=2619469, link to their website: https://www.ha.com/

 

The coins of the fifth issue are recognizable by style. The face is wider with a long and wide nose. Zeno looking more slightly to the right.

On the reverse, I noted ''Angel'' in the description, we can also say that it is about the Victory, but the image of the victory at that time had indeed become that of an angel symbolizing the Christian victory.