Zeno AV Solidus (474–491 AD), graded NGC AU, is a notable example of late Eastern Roman imperial gold coinage that reflects the political turbulence and monetary continuity of the period. Struck during the reign of Emperor Zeno, this solidus presents the emperor's bust in military garb with a helmet, spear in hand, and a shield decorated with a horseman motif. Zeno’s reign was plagued with domestic distress mostly circled around religion. Zeno served in the waning days of the Eastern Roman Empire and faced multiple plots with the intent of overthrowing his rule.
The reverse features an early rendition of an angel, Victoria, the goddess of victory. She is the Roman version of the Greek Nike frequently seen on early Greek coinage. Victory is seen holding a long jeweled cross with a star in the right field on the reverse as Christianity became prominent in the late Roman/Byzantine empire.
Lovely AU example with very light wear confined to the highest points with strong original details and remaining luster. The coin’s fabric and iconography combining imperial portraiture with Christian symbolism illustrate the empire’s efforts to assert legitimacy amid internal revolts and Gothic pressures, while its gold content and consistent weight underscore the solidus’s enduring role as a stable medium of high-value exchange across the Mediterranean economy.
Zeno AV Solidus (474–491 AD), graded NGC AU, is a notable example of late Eastern Roman imperial gold coinage that reflects the political turbulence and monetary continuity of the period. Struck during the reign of Emperor Zeno, this solidus presents the emperor's bust in military garb with a helmet, spear in hand, and a shield decorated with a horseman motif. Zeno’s reign was plagued with domestic distress mostly circled around religion. Zeno served in the waning days of the Eastern Roman Empire and faced multiple plots with the intent of overthrowing his rule.
The reverse features an early rendition of an angel, Victoria, the goddess of victory. She is the Roman version of the Greek Nike frequently seen on early Greek coinage. Victory is seen holding a long jeweled cross with a star in the right field on the reverse as Christianity became prominent in the late Roman/Byzantine empire.
Lovely AU example with very light wear confined to the highest points with strong original details and remaining luster. The coin’s fabric and iconography combining imperial portraiture with Christian symbolism illustrate the empire’s efforts to assert legitimacy amid internal revolts and Gothic pressures, while its gold content and consistent weight underscore the solidus’s enduring role as a stable medium of high-value exchange across the Mediterranean economy.
