The Roman Empire
Romulus Augustus, 475 – 476. Tremissis 475-476, AV 1.43 g. D N ROMVLVS AVGVSTVS P F A Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. Cross within wreath; below, COMOB. C 10. Lacam 24. LRC 950. Depeyrot 87/1 (this obverse die). RIC 3409.
Extremely rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. An unusually
attractive portrait and a wonderful reddish tone. Extremely fine
The last legitimate ruler of the Western Roman Empire was Julius Nepos, who remained the constitutional emperor in absentia from his base in Dalmatia. However, traditionally that honour has been incorrectly given to Romulus Augustus (sometimes surnamed Augustulus, "the little emperor"), who, after Nepos fled Italy, was hailed emperor as a figurehead of his father's army. His reign lasted just ten months before Germans under Odovacar withdrew their support and deposed both the young emperor and his father. The Germans allowed the former boy-emperor to live, and provided him with an ample pension so he could engage in an early retirement to an estate on the Gulf of Naples in Campania, where he is said to have lived for at least thirty more years.