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Object Type
Museum number: 1983,0703.3
Denomination: solidus
Description: Gold coin. (whole); Helmeted and diademed bust of Zeno, facing, cuirassed and holding spear and shield. (obverse); Victory standing, left, holding long cross. (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: Odovacar, King of Italy (?); Issuer: Theodoric I, King of the Ostrogoths (?)
Cultures/periods
Production date: 477-491
Production place: Minted in: Rome (city)
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot: Puglia
Materials
Dimensions: Die-axis: 6 o'clock; Diameter: 21 millimetres; Weight: 4.41 grammes
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: This type is characterised by the combination of the mintmark Γ• at the end of the reverse legend •COMOB• in the exergue. Another feature in this coin, visible in the reverse legend, is the separation of the letters R and I in VICTORIA, caused by the insertion of the arm of the cross, that, according to Kent, appears to become more decisively visible with this particular issue (although recorded previously).
Bibliographic references: RIC10 / The Roman imperial coinage, vol. 10: The divided empire and the fall of the western parts, AD 395-491. (3656); Baldi 2014 / Ostrogothic Coins in the British Museum (4.1)
Location: Not on display
Subjects: emperor/empress; allegory/personification; cross; classical deity
Associated names: Named in inscription & portrayed: Zeno; Representation of: Nike/Victoria/Victory
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1983
Department: Coins and Medals
Registration number: 1983,0703.3

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