Basiliscus

Augustus 475-476

History remembers Basiliscus in an unfavorable light for his biggest accomplishment seems to have been the annihilation of a large fleet sent to deal with the Vandals of Northern Africa. The circumstances for this disaster remain clouded under some controversy but it seems certain that as he approached the Vandal capital their leader sent a boat full of gold to halt the invasion. Basiliscus may well have sold out his countrymen and the cause for the loot. With the bought time, and probably more than a little proactive help on the part of Basiliscus, the Vandals were able to mount a quick counteroffensive and rout the would-be conquerors. Following an investigation, Basiliscus managed to avoid being executed for the military blunder with the help of well-placed connections. Instead, through luck and lack of more able leaders, the Senate ratified him as the Eastern emperor in 475. Here his lackluster performance carried over in the form of passing law after unpopular law which seemed to alienate everyone who could 've been in a position to help him. Years before, a series of plots engineered by the ranking elite in Constantinople forced the then-emperor Zeno to flee. Now the very same people who did this were recalling the former emperor back in light of the gross mismanagement of Basiliscus. One by one his supporters switched sides to Zeno. Basiliscus did what he could to appease his dwindling support net but it was a day late and a dollar short. In 476 Zeno returned to Constantinople, captured Basiliscus and sent him and his whole family off to an island where they were executed by starvation. 

Coins of Basiliscus are found bearing his name alone as well as with his brother Marcus whom he briefly recognized as co-emperor. However, none are known in the name of Marcus alone. And this is all mostly academic since these coins are generally very rare to begin with. While there is no such thing as a "census" of remaining coins for any given emperor or type one could make an educated guess that there are probably less than a hundred or two coins of Basiliscus (with or without his brother) accounted for the whole world over. There are probably many hundreds or thousands at the bottom of the Mediterranean but until those are recovered – if they ever are – finding one for sale will be a challenge. And then paying for one will give your budget a whallop.
 
Although a few tiny bronzes have been identified, mostly thanks to his distinctive monogram, these are even rarer than the gold pieces and likely to cost just as much. A few tremisses and Solidi have been seen to cost under a thousand dollars each but more typically they go for quite a bit more.

Busts:

 
1) Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
2) Helmeted, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust facing holding spear over shoulder and shield


 

Obverses:

 
1) DN BASIL ET MAR P AVG
2) DN BASILISCI ET MARC P AVG
3) DN BASILISCI ET MARCI C
4) DN BASILISCVS PE AVG
5) DN BASILISCVS PERT AVG
6) DN BASILISCVS PF AVG
7) DN BASILISCVS PP AVG
8) DN BASILISCVS PRET AVG
9) No legend

 

Reverses:

 
1) GLORIA ROMANORVM
2) SALVS REIPVBLICAE
3) SALVS REIPVRLICAE
4) VICTORIA AVGG
5) VICTORIA AVGGG 
6) VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM
7) VRBIS ROMA 
8) No legend

 

Types:

 
1) Basiliscus and Marcus seated, facing, each holding a mappa and globe
2) Basiliscus standing, holding spear and resting left hand on shield.
3) Constantinopolis seated, facing, stepping on galley prow, holding scepter and cornucopia.
4) Monogram
5) Roma seated, facing, holding Victory on globe and spear.
6) Victory seated right holding shield reading XXXX
7) Victory standing left, holding cross.
8) Victory standing, facing, holding wreath and cross on globe.
9) Wreath, cross within

 

Mints:

 
1) Constantinopolis
2) Cyzicus
3) Mediolanum
4) Nicomedia
5) Roma
6) Thessalonica

 
AU Solidus Reference(s)
 
1) B2, O2, R5, T7, M1 Exe: */CONOB RIC X 1024
2) B2, O7, R5, T7, M1 Exe: */CONOB RIC X 1003

 

AU Tremissis

 
3) B1, O2, R6, T8, M1 Exe: */CONOB RIC X 1030
4) B1, O7, R6, T8, M1 Exe: */CONOB RIC X 1008

 

AE4

 
5) B1, O1, R8, T4, M2 Exe: CVZ RIC X 1034

 

Basiliscus Busts

Basiliscus Types