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

BASILISCUS and MARCUS. 475-476 AD. AV Solidus 
4.48 gm, 6h). Constantinople mint. 
D N BASILISCI-ET MARC P AVG, Pearl-diademed, helmeted, 
cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear and shield.
VICTORI-A AVGGG <font face="SYMBOL">G</font> (officina
letter), Victory standing left, holding long jewelled 
cross; star in right field; CONOB in ex.. RIC X 1025; 
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 in late Summer 475 AD 
named his eldest son Marcus Caesar then, a few weeks 
later, Augustus. Basiliscus’ duplicitous actions had , 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.

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