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                                Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 1798. Closing Date: Jun 08, 
                                2005. BASILISCUS and MARCUS. 475-476 AD. AV 
                                Solidus (4.48 gm, 6h). Constantinople mint. 
                                Bidding Closed Estimate $1500 

                              BASILISCUS and MARCUS. 475-476 AD. AV Solidus 
                              (4.48 gm, 6h). Constantinople mint. 
                              Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust 
                              facing slightly right, holding spear and shield / 
                              Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross; 
                              star in right field; G//CONOB. RIC X 1024; 
                              Depeyrot 105/4. EF, a few scuff and scratches. 
                              Rare. ($1500)

                              Little is known of Marcus, the eldest son of the 
                              usurper Basiliscus who lost the 1,100-ship armada 
                              of Leo I to the Vandals. The accession of Zeno in 
                              474 AD was not met with universal joy; it was 
                              comparatively easy for Basiliscus, the brother of 
                              Aelia Verina (who had arranged Zeno’s rise to 
                              power), to plot for the throne himself. Through a 
                              series of clever schemes, Basiliscus won the title 
                              of Augustus after Zeno had been tricked into 
                              fleeing Constantinople. Basiliscus hailed his wife 
                              Aelia Zenonis Augusta, and late in the summer of 
                              475 AD, raised his eldest son Marcus to the rank 
                              of Caesar. A few weeks later he raised him to 
                              Augustus. Basiliscus’ duplicitous actions along 
                              the way, however, made both Zeno and Aelia Verina 
                              his enemies, and his reign lasted barely a year 
                              before he and his unfortunate son were deposed by 
                              Zeno.








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High bid of $2500, $2875 including 15% buyers fee, or approximately €2025, £1375, C$3125, A$3250, on June 8, 2005.

Used by permission of CNG, www.cngcoins.com