Sale: CNG 66, Lot: 1661. Estimate $15000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 19 May 2004.  Sold For $20000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ROMULUS AUGUSTUS. October 475 - September 476 AD. AV Tremissis (1.46 gm). Rome mint. Pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Cross within wreath; COMOB. RIC X 3411 (same obverse die); Lacam -; cf. Depeyrot 87/1. EF, a few thin die breaks, nick on cheek. Extremely rare. ($15,000)

Romulus Augustus was the young son of Orestes, the Master of Soldiers for Emperor Julius Nepos. In 475 AD, Orestes and his mostly Germanic troops successfully rebelled, and Romulus was installed as the new emperor. Only ten months later, Odovacar, another German serving Rome, was proclaimed king by the troops in north Italy. Odovacar killed Orestes and deposed the young ruler, who was allowed to retire to a Campanian villa. Thus ended the Western Roman Empire as it began some 500 years earlier, with an emperor named Augustus.