Artemide Aste s.r.l.
Auction LII 26-27 Oct 2019
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Zeno, Second reign (476-491). AV Solidus, uncertain Italian mint. D/ DN ZENO PERP AVG. Pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear and shield. R/ VICTORIA AVGGG Θ. Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross; star to right; in exergue, CONOR. Cf. RIC 3627 (Ravenna for type); Lacam Classe I, Type 1 (Bononia under Theoderic); Depeyrot -; Ranieri -. AV. g. 4.41 mm. 20.50 RR. An attractive example of this very rare and controversial issue. About EF/EF.
Based on the CONOR in the exergue, Lacam assigned this issue to the reign of the Ostrogothic king Theoderic, an attribution which catalogers of these coins have generally adopted. M.A. Metlich, in his recent study of the Ostrogothic coinage (COI), however, states that no solidi in the name of Zeno can be attributed to Theoderic, implying that such issues must be official coinages of the emperor. In fact, P. Grierson noted a Zeno with Leo tremissis with the CONOR mintmark in Dumbarton Oaks (DOCLR 628), which he assigned to Constantinople. While CONOR is suggestive of an unofficial or imitative issue, examples with this mintmark are recorded with one of seven different officina letters – A, B, Γ, Δ, Є, Z, and Θ. So many officina letters are unknown in contemporary Germanic issues that imitate imperial coinage, and rather suggest a well-structured official mint whose identification is not yet certain. (CNG 106, 862 note):.
Based on the CONOR in the exergue, Lacam assigned this issue to the reign of the Ostrogothic king Theoderic, an attribution which catalogers of these coins have generally adopted. M.A. Metlich, in his recent study of the Ostrogothic coinage (COI), however, states that no solidi in the name of Zeno can be attributed to Theoderic, implying that such issues must be official coinages of the emperor. In fact, P. Grierson noted a Zeno with Leo tremissis with the CONOR mintmark in Dumbarton Oaks (DOCLR 628), which he assigned to Constantinople. While CONOR is suggestive of an unofficial or imitative issue, examples with this mintmark are recorded with one of seven different officina letters – A, B, Γ, Δ, Є, Z, and Θ. So many officina letters are unknown in contemporary Germanic issues that imitate imperial coinage, and rather suggest a well-structured official mint whose identification is not yet certain. (CNG 106, 862 note):.