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Leo II, with Zeno. AD 474. AV Solidus (20mm, 4.42 g, 6h). Constantinople mint, 4th officina. Struck 18 January-17 November. Pearl-diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing slightly right, holding spear over shoulder and shield / Leo and Zeno seated facing on double throne, both nimbate and holding mappa; star and cross above; Δ//CONOB. RIC X 803; Depeyrot 98/1. Toned, mount marks. VF. Very rare from this officina.
Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 394 (29 March 2017), lot 523; D. Fagan Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 342, 14 January 2015), lot 807.
Leo II’s grandfather and namesake Leo I was not expected to produce an imperial dynasty. In fact, his appointment and expected tenure as emperor which came about through the covert maneuvering of the powerful magister militum and patrician, Aspar, was likely intended to be short. Aspar may well have placed Leo I on the throne in order to bide his time in solidifying his own imperial dynastic ambitions. However, Leo proved to be more strong-willed than Aspar bargained for. Leo I and his wife harbored dynastic ambitions, and managed to produce a son. This potential heir, however, soon died in infancy. Leo I’s daughter, Aelia Ariadne, consequently became an extremely important factor in the imperial succession. Leo was first persuaded to betroth Ariadne to Aspar’s second son Patricius. However, Leo later reneged on the betrothal and instead married her to an Isaurian soldier named Zeno, who had brought about the downfall of Aspar’s eldest son Ardaburius on accusations of treason. Aspar lost control of his puppet and was ultimately eliminated.
If the new Leonid dynasty was to endure, Leo I would need a viable heir. Ariadne and Zeno soon produced a son, Leo II, who became Leo I’s presumptive successor. When the elder Leo’s health began to falter, he raised his eponymous grandson to the rank of Caesar in October AD 473, then Augustus in January AD 474. Leo I died a few days later, and the sickly seven-year-old Leo II became sole emperor. Leo’s widow, Aelia Verina, arranged for Leo II to appoint his own father, Zeno, co-emperor on 9 February AD 474, an arrangement that lasted until Leo II died in November of the same year. Afterwards, Zeno ruled as sole emperor. This solidus was struck during their brief joint-reign.
Closing Date and Time: 4 June 2026 at 11:19:20 ET.
All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.
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