VICTORIA AVGGG (2nd reign, 476 / 491, 5th 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 05/01/2014 by Heritage Auctions, Auction 3030, lot 23995, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1823549, link to their website: https://www.ha.com/.

Variant with jewels on the diadem. This mark A can be explained by a bad engraving of the letter T. TA might be the desired mark. The style corresponds to the Constantinople mint but is closer to the fifth issue. Engraving error or particular series? Considering that the period of this coinage is particularly chaotic, we can also consider a strike in another mint, even if the style is that of Constantinople, a transfer of engraver being possible. I noted three coins with this mark, the reverse die is always the same, the strike was probably not long. This die is associated with the same obverse die as the coin illustrated here and with an obverse die with diadem without jewels (classified AYC # 9 j var, RIC -). The coin sharing the same dies as the copy shown here, has been sold the 10/11/2008 by Heidelberger Münzhandlung Herbert Grün e.K, Auction 50, lot 247, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=543395.

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.