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ZENO, Eastern emperor from 474 to 491 A.D. Descended from an illustrious Isaurian family, he was originally named Trassalisseus, which he changed to Zeno on his marriage, in 468 A.D., to Ariadne, daughter of the Emperor Leo I and Verina [VERINA]. In 474 A.D., on the death of Leo I, Zeno took over the government of the Empire since the new emperor Leo II, Leo I's grandson, as well as the son of Zeno and Ariadne, was only a child. The boy lived only a short time, however, and on his death Zeno became sole Emperor. His reign was oppressive, and many revolts occurred which caused Zeno to flee to Isauria. Verina, widow of Leo I, claimed the Empire and installed her brother, Basiliscus, on the throne in 476 A.D. The following year, Basiliscus was deposed and Zeno reclaimed the Empire, but he showed no better qualities and rebellions were frequent. In 491 A.D., after a turbulent reign of seventeen years, he died and was succeeded by Anastasius, who married his widow Ariadne. The following coins of Zeno are extant:-

                        LEO II AND ZENO

1. Gold Solidus. Obverse: D N (Domini) LEO ET ZENO P P AVG (Perpetui Augusti). Helmeted bust, facing, of Leo II, holding spear over his right shoulder and shield engraved with a horseman. Reverse: SALVS REIPVBLICAE I or Q. Leo II and Zeno seated facing, both nimbate, Zeno on the left, Leo II on the right; between their heads, a cross, and above, a star; in exergue, CONOB.
2. Gold Solidus. Obverse: Same legend and type as above. Reverse: VICTORIA AVGGG (Augustorum). Victory standing facing left, holding a long cross: in field, a star; in exergue, CONOB.
3. Gold Tremissis. Obverse: Same legend. Diademed bust of Leo II facing right. Reverse: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM. Victory walking, holding wreath and globe; in field, star.
4. Gold Tremissis. Obverse: Same legend and type as above. Reverse: Cross within wreath; in exergue, CONOB.

                   ZENO AND LEO II

1. Gold Tremissis.

Please |help| us convert the |Dictionary of Roman Coins| from scans to text by typing the original text here. Please add updates or make corrections to the NumisWiki text version as appropriate.

ZENO, Eastern emperor from 474 to 491 A.D. Descended from an illustrious Isaurian family, he was originally named Trassalisseus, which he changed to Zeno on his marriage, in 468 A.D., to Ariadne, daughter of the Emperor Leo I and Verina [VERINA]. In 474 A.D., on the death of Leo I, Zeno took over the government of the Empire since the new emperor Leo II, Leo I's grandson, as well as the son of Zeno and Ariadne, was only a child. The boy lived only a short time, however, and on his death Zeno became sole Emperor. His reign was oppressive, and many revolts occurred which caused Zeno to flee to Isauria. Verina, widow of Leo I, claimed the Empire and installed her brother, Basiliscus, on the throne in 476 A.D. The following year, Basiliscus was deposed and Zeno reclaimed the Empire, but he showed no better qualities and rebellions were frequent. In 491 A.D., after a turbulent reign of seventeen years, he died and was succeeded by Anastasius, who married his widow Ariadne. The following coins of Zeno are extant:-

LEO II AND ZENO

1. Gold Solidus. Obverse: D N (Domini) LEO ET ZENO P P AVG (Perpetui Augusti). Helmeted bust, facing, of Leo II, holding spear over his right shoulder and shield engraved with a horseman. Reverse: SALVS REIPVBLICAE I or Q. Leo II and Zeno seated facing, both nimbate, Zeno on the left, Leo II on the right; between their heads, a cross, and above, a star; in exergue, CONOB.
2. Gold Solidus. Obverse: Same legend and type as above. Reverse: VICTORIA AVGGG (Augustorum). Victory standing facing left, holding a long cross: in field, a star; in exergue, CONOB.
3. Gold Tremissis. Obverse: Same legend. Diademed bust of Leo II facing right. Reverse: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM. Victory walking, holding wreath and globe; in field, star.
4. Gold Tremissis. Obverse: Same legend and type as above. Reverse: Cross within wreath; in exergue, CONOB.

ZENO AND LEO II

1. Gold Tremissis. Obverse: D N ZENO ET LEO NOV CAES. Diademed bust of Zeno facing right. Reverse: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM. Victory standing facing left, holding wreath and globe surmounted by cross; in exergue, CONOB.
2. AE 1. Obverse: ZENO ET LEO NOV CAES. Diademed head of Zeno facing right; in exergue, IIII. Reverse: INVICTA ROMA. Victory walking right, holding wreath and trophy over left shoulder; in field, S C; in exergue, XL.
 With respect to the letters NOV CAES, some have considered them to stand for Novus Caesar, but it is more probable that the NOV equates to NOB, and should be interpreted as Nobilissimus. A similar interchange of V and B can be found, on the gold coins of Theodosius II and Marcian, in the legend GLORIA ORVIS [ORBIS] TERRAR.
 Eckhel observes that, why Zeno and Leo are called Nobilissimi Caesares, when they were certainly Augusti, as testified by history and other coins, cannot be explained.

ZENO ALONE

Obverse legends for gold and silver, D N ZENO PERP [or PERPE] AVG [or AV]. Principal reverse legends: VICTORIA AVGGG - solidus, semissis and tremissis.