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Auction: 336 - The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 178

Roman Imperial. Eastern Empire. Aelia Zenonis, wife of Basiliscus, Augusta (475-476). AE, 10mm. Constantinople(?) 0.74 gms. (A ZEN)-ONIS, pearl-diademed, draped bust right, rev. Zenonis monogram within wreath. RIC 1018. Very rare. Hailed Augusta during the early days of her husband's revolt against Zeno, Zenonis fell in love with Basiliscus' nephew, Armatus, who promptly made his uncle a cuckold. A strutting peacock and megalomaniac, Armatus was little loved by the populace, who dubbed him Pyrrhus ("pink cheeks"). When Basiliscus sent Armatus to hunt down Zeno who was in exile in Isauria, Zeno, bought off Armatus, who switched his allegiance. Restored to the throne, Zeno honored his promises to Armatus. Unable, though, to tolerate his outrageous behavior, he soon had him executed. Zenonis, Basiliscus and their son, Marcus, meanwhile, had been exiled to Cappadocia, where they starved to death. Forest green patina, earthen hues in peripheries. Very Fine.

Estimate
$300 to $400