Lot 83A
Byzantine Gold Solidus of Leo I - 10th Officina, CONOB
Byzantine Gold Solidus of Leo I - 10th Officina, CONOB
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Near East, Byzantine Empire, Constantinople, reign of Emperor Leo I, ca. 462 to 466 CE. A radiant gold solidus struck during the reign of Emperor Leo I (r. 457474 CE), minted in Constantinople between 462 and 466 CE. Composed of exceptionally pure gold (99.99%, or 23.99 karats), the coin weighs 4.4 grams and exemplifies the stability and prestige of Byzantine imperial currency. The obverse presents a boldly front-facing bust of Leo I, helmeted and pearl-diademed, wearing military cuirass. He grips a spear in his right hand behind his head and bears a shield on his left arm, adorned with a horseman - likely a reference to martial valor or imperial triumph. The Latin inscription reads: D N LEO PERPET AVG ("Dominus Noster Leo Perpetuus Augustus"). The reverse features the winged figure of Victory standing left, robed and draped, holding a long jeweled cross with the letters "VICTORIA AVGGG I" meaning "Victory of the three Emperors" and indicating officina 10 via the Greek Iota. Size: 0.8125" Diameter (2.1 cm); gold quality: 99.99% (23.99 karat); weight: 4.4 grams
A star appears in the right field, and below is the mint mark CONOB (signifying Constantinople). Solidi such as this were not merely currency but instruments of imperial propaganda, distributed to cement loyalty and signal divine favor. Leo I, known as "Leo the Thracian," rose from humble origins to become the first emperor crowned by the Patriarch of Constantinople, inaugurating the tradition of ecclesiastical imperial legitimacy that would define Byzantine rule.
Emperor Leo I, known as "Leo the Thracian," reigned over the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire from 457 to 474 CE. Born of humble origin in Dacia Aureliana (modern-day Balkans), Leo came to power with the support of the powerful general Aspar but soon distanced himself from his Germanic patron. In a calculated break from military dominance over the throne, Leo sought to empower the Roman civic and ecclesiastical elite, marking a significant shift in the empire's political balance. His coronation in 457 by the Patriarch of Constantinople was a precedent-setting moment, symbolizing the growing fusion of imperial and ecclesiastical authority.
Leo's reign was characterized by efforts to consolidate imperial control and resist barbarian influence, particularly through strategic appointments and military campaigns. He famously allied with the Isaurians to offset Germanic power at court and arranged the marriage of his daughter Ariadne to the Isaurian chieftain Zeno, ensuring dynastic continuity. Though his ambitious military expedition against the Vandals in North Africa failed disastrously, Leo left behind a more centralized and independent Byzantine state. His efforts laid the groundwork for the eventual ascendancy of the Eastern Empire as the true heir of Rome.
Provenance: ex-T.F. Holy Lands collection, formed since the 1960s; ex-private UK collection; ex-Vienna, Austria collection, before 2000
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#195326
- Condition: Very Fine. Mint State. Sharply struck with only a few imperfections.
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