coin

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Object Type: coin
Museum number: 1951,1115.2830
Denomination: nummus, 40
Description: Copper alloy coin. (whole); Laureate head of Zeno, right. (obverse); Victory advancing, right, holding trophy and wreath. (reverse)
State: Associated with: Odovacar's Kingdom of Italy (?) Europe: Odovacar's Kingdom of Italy; Associated with: Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy (?) Europe: Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy
Authority: Issuer: Theodoric I, King of the Ostrogoths (?); Issuer: Odovacar, King of Italy (?)
Cultures/periods: Germanic
Production date: 489-491
Production place: Minted in: Rome (city)
Materials: copper alloy
Dimensions: Die-axis: 2 o'clock; Weight: 14.35 grammes
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: This type shows a change is the obverse inscription that becomes IMP ZENO SEMPER AVC, and the absence of the mintmark •IIII• below the head; there is also a change in style, seen especially in the head that becomes broader. On the reverse the inscription IMVICTA ROMA with S C on either sides of the Victory and •XL• on the exergue. This type is considered rare by Grierson.
Bibliographic references: RIC10 / The Roman imperial coinage, vol. 10: The divided empire and the fall of the western parts, AD 395-491. (3667); BZ3 / Catalogue of the Coins of the Vandals, Ostrogoths and Lombards and of the empires of Thessalonica, Nicaea and Trebizond in the British Museum (5, p.100) (type); Baldi 2014 / Ostrogothic Coins in the British Museum (10.2)
Location: Not on display
Subjects: emperor/empress; allegory/personification; classical deity
Associated names: Named in inscription & portrayed: Zeno; Representation of: Nike/Victoria/Victory
Acquisition name: Bequeathed by: J W E Pearce
Acquisition date: 1951
Department: Money and Medals
Registration number: 1951,1115.2830

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