VICTORIA AVGGG (476 / 477 then 480 / 491)


Reference : AYC #25 var, RIC 3603
Weight: 4.37 grs
Metal: Gold
Diameter: 20.00 mm
Scarcity: Scarce
Type:

Obverse

Reverse

D N ZENO – PERP AVG

Bust of Zeno facing, cuirassed, wearing a 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.

IICTORI - A AVGGG

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

Marks

M
    
D
COMOB
Numéro :

Photo of a coin sold the 24/03/2021 by Roma Numismatics Limited, Auction 21, lot 857, link to the sale: https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=7934462, link to their website: https://www.romanumismatics.com/.

On the reverse we read ''I ICTORIA AVGGG'' the letter V is an I, engraving error. This coin shares the same obverse die as the coin illustrating the AYC #25, RIC 3603 as well as the copy illustrated in the RIC X plate 73, n° 3603. It is the only obverse die that I have seen associated with the reverse with the officina . I saw three different reverse dies, the other two dies are those of the coins listed here. 

The spear fits between the letters E and R of PERP without creating any space. This shows that most of the large breaks not crossed by an element of the design are voluntary. Generally, many of the solidi of this mint have light spaces on PERP, the spear being often quite long.

These coins with a star are made before and after the issues without a star which were struck simultaneously with the coins of Julius Nepos.

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.