VICTORIA AVGGG (476 / 477 then 480 / 491)


Reference : AYC #27, RIC 3625
Weight: 4.40 grs
Metal: Gold
Diameter: 20.10 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.

VICTOR - I - A AVGGG

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

Marks

COMOB
Numéro :

Photo with kind permission of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, link to their wesbsite to see the coin: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/btv1b11350037n?rk=858373;2#. This is the copy illustrated in RIC X, plate 74, n° 3625.

I noted a legend break on the reverse, the one on the coin shown here. I have not yet seen the other coins cited by the RIC X, so it is questionable if a reverse without a cut between the letters R and I exists. Sources given by RIC X: Bibliothèque Nationale de France (coin illustrated here), Staatliche Museen of Berlin (that i classified as variant because the RIC X noted that this coin reads AVGGG), Museo Civico of Turin.

The coins from this mint have a recognizable style. Zeno's eyes are represented by two balls. This coin is part of an exception to the rule. The reverse fits perfectly with the style of this mint, although this reverse style is very close to that of the Roma mint. This mint of Roma having an obverse of a more neat style and closer to that of Constantinople. 

The two dots '''' in the mintmark are after AVGGG, in the orientation of the legend.

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.