Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 120 6-7 Oct 2020
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The Ostrogoths, Odovacar, 476-493
Pseudo-Imperial Coinage. In the name of Zeno, 474-491. Solidus, Mediolanum circa 477-480, AV 4.39 g. DN ZENO – PE – RP AVC (AV ligate) Pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and decorated shield with horseman and fallen enemy motif. Rev. VICTOR – IA AVCCC Victory standing l., holding long jewelled cross; on sides, M – D. In exergue, COMOB. BMC Vandals –. Kraus –. Urlich-Bansa –, cf. pl. XIV, 157-158 (for obverse type). Lacam pl. 43, 126 (this obverse die) (Julius Nepos). MEC I, –. RIC 3229 (these dies).
Exceedingly rare. Light reddish tone and minor edge marks, otherwise, about extremely fine
From an English collection.
Odovacar was the most unusual of the Barbarian kings in the West in that his power relied not on his own tribe but rather on a heterogeneous group of mercenaries. He was a Scirian, a minor Germanic tribe originally from Scythia, and his father was a vassal of Attila. In the meanwhile, Orestes, Magister Militum and Patrician of Julius Nepos, had become too ambitious, driven Nepos out of Italy and proclaimed his young son emperor with the name Romulus Augustus. The Eastern emperor Zeno charged Odovacar with the task of recuperating the western regions and soon afterward Orestes was killed, and his young son was deposed and retired to a villa in Campania. This was the moment in which Odovacar assumed the title of king of Italy (Rex Gentium, 476). He was granted the title of Patrician by the emperor Zeno, who was the ruler in whose name all of Odovacar's coins were struck, and managed to retain control of Italy, Sicily, and parts of Provence, Noricum and Rhaetia.
Pseudo-Imperial Coinage. In the name of Zeno, 474-491. Solidus, Mediolanum circa 477-480, AV 4.39 g. DN ZENO – PE – RP AVC (AV ligate) Pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and decorated shield with horseman and fallen enemy motif. Rev. VICTOR – IA AVCCC Victory standing l., holding long jewelled cross; on sides, M – D. In exergue, COMOB. BMC Vandals –. Kraus –. Urlich-Bansa –, cf. pl. XIV, 157-158 (for obverse type). Lacam pl. 43, 126 (this obverse die) (Julius Nepos). MEC I, –. RIC 3229 (these dies).
Exceedingly rare. Light reddish tone and minor edge marks, otherwise, about extremely fine
From an English collection.
Odovacar was the most unusual of the Barbarian kings in the West in that his power relied not on his own tribe but rather on a heterogeneous group of mercenaries. He was a Scirian, a minor Germanic tribe originally from Scythia, and his father was a vassal of Attila. In the meanwhile, Orestes, Magister Militum and Patrician of Julius Nepos, had become too ambitious, driven Nepos out of Italy and proclaimed his young son emperor with the name Romulus Augustus. The Eastern emperor Zeno charged Odovacar with the task of recuperating the western regions and soon afterward Orestes was killed, and his young son was deposed and retired to a villa in Campania. This was the moment in which Odovacar assumed the title of king of Italy (Rex Gentium, 476). He was granted the title of Patrician by the emperor Zeno, who was the ruler in whose name all of Odovacar's coins were struck, and managed to retain control of Italy, Sicily, and parts of Provence, Noricum and Rhaetia.