Leo I (457-474 AD), gold, AV Solidus, Byzantine empire
| Start Price |
USD 850.00 |
| Current Price |
USD 850.00 |
| Time Left |
- |
| Bid Count |
0 |
| Buy It Now Price |
- |
| Reserve Price |
- |
| Start Time |
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 |
| End Time |
Thursday, November 27, 2008 |
| Location |
Georgia |
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See more about 'Leo I (457-474 AD), gold, AV Solidus, Byzantine empire'
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Description
Offered for auction is a authentic, ancient gold Leo I (457-474 AD) AV Solidus (19 mm, 4.37 g). Constantinople mint, struck c. 457-474 AD. Obverse: Diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, holding spear over shoulder and behind him. Shield on left. Reverse: Victory standing left holding long jeweled cross; star in right field; CONOB. Condition: I believe this coin to be in nearly VF condition, but you must judge for yourself by checking the photos. Provenance: Ex-Goldberg auction.HISTORY Leo (401- 474), known as Leo the Thracian, or Leo I, was a Byzantine emperor who ruled from 457 to 474. He was the last of a series of emperors placed on the throne by Aspar, the Alan barbarian serving as commander-in-chief of the Eastern Roman army.Leo's coronation as emperor on February 7, 457, was the first known to be presided by the Patriarch of Constantinople. Leo I made an alliance with the Isaurians and was thus able to eliminate Aspar. The price of the alliance was the marriage of Leo's daughter to Tarasicodissa, leader of the Isaurians, who renamed Zeno, became emperor in 474.Constantinople ProtectedDuring Leo's reign, the Balkans were ravaged time and again by the East Goths and the Huns. However, these attackers were unable to take Constantinople thanks to the walls which had been rebuilt and reinforced in the reign of Theodosius II and against which they possessed no suitable siege engines.Princesses RansomedIn 455, Western Roman Emperor Valentinian III was murdered, probably in a conspiracy orquestrated by his former collaborator, Petronius Maximus. In the days that followed the death of the emperor, Petronius Maximus rose to the imperial power, and obliged Licinia Eudoxia, Valentinian's widow, to marry him, in order to strengthen his position. Eudoxia, who was not happy of marrying her husband's assassin, called for the help of the African Vandal king Gaiseric, who had engaged one of his sons to Eudoxia's eldest daughter. Gaiseric moved to Rome quickly. Petronius Maximus opted for fleeing, but he was killed by the mob of Rome. When the Vandals arrived in Rome, they sacked the city, and took, among the other prisoners, Eudoxia and her two daughters, Eudocia and Placidia. The three women stayed prisoners in Carthage for seven years, until a large ransom was payed by the Eastern Emperor Leo I. Carthage Expedition against the VandalsLeo's reign was also noteworthy for his influence in the Western Roman Empire, marked by his appointment of Anthemius as Western Roman Emperor in 467. He attempted a great military-political achievement with an expedition against the Vandals in 468, which was defeated due to the incompetence of Leo's brother-in-law Basiliscus. This disaster drained the Empire of blood and treasure. The expedition, which cost 130,000 pounds of gold and 700 pounds of silver, consisted of 1,113 ships transporting 100,000 men, but in the end lost 600 ships.Influence on the West Leo's greatest influence in the West was largely inadvertent and second-hand: The great Ostrogothic king Theodoric the Great was raised at Leo's court in Constantinople, where he was steeped in Roman government and military tactics, which served him well when he returned after Leo's death to become the Goth ruler of a mixed but largely Romanized people.Leo died of dysentery at the age of 73 on January 18, 474. After some turmoil, he was succeeded by Zeno.This is an All Sales Final auction. All items sold AS IS. No Returns, so do your own research and bid accordingly. Our feedback rating speaks for itself!PLEASE NOTE: BY BIDDING ON THIS ITEM YOU ARE AGREEING TO OUR PAYMENT AND SHIPPING TERMSCombine shipping policy within a three day period:First item-- full shipping and/or insurance.Second item--50% off.Third and subsequent articles-- free.Good luck!
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