Pseudo-Imperial, Odovacar (Odoacer) AV Solidus. In the name of Zeno. Rome, AD 476-489. D N ZENO PERP F AVG, helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear and shield decorated with horseman and fallen enemy motif / VICTORIA AVGGG R, Victory standing facing, head to left, holding long jewelled cross; star in right field, COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3653; Ladich p. 11; MEC 1, -; BMC Vandals -; DOC 686 = Lacam pl. 58, 72; Roma XXIII, 1151 and cf. 1152 (same obv. die, officina Γ). 4.33g, 19mm, 6h.
Good Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare; only the second example to be offered at auction in at least the past 20 years.
This coin published in I. Vecchi, R. Beale and S. Parkin, The Mare Nostrum Hoard (forthcoming);
From the Mare Nostrum Hoard (1954).
In RIC X, Kent argues that the Rome solidi struck at the behest of Odovacar can be divided into two series. The first series bearing the mint mark COMOB and :, R or Γ at the end of the reverse legend, and the second with •COMOB• and Γ• or Ä (see p. 216).