Johannes. Usurper, A.D. 423-425. Æ 4. 1.37 gm. 12 mm. Rome mint. His pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; D N IOHANNES P F AVG / Victory advancing left, holding trophy and dragging captive, Chi-Rho to left; SALVS REIPVBLICE around, mint mark off flan. Cf. RIC X 1913, 1920, 1923. Good Very Fine; attractive smooth green patina. Very Rare, and rarer still so nice.

Upon the unexpected death of Honorius, his principal secretary Johannes proclaimed himself emperor in the West. "An army was dispatched to end the rebellion and Johannes, disappointed in securing aid from the Huns, was arrested in Ravenna and condemned to death by Valentinian's mother Galla Placidia. Another version of the story is that he was taken to Aquileia where he was mutilated and exposed to public ridicule on a donkey before being executed." David Sear, Roman Coins and their Values V, page 477.