Theoderic (Anastasius)

D N ANASTASIVS P F AVG

VICTORIA AVGGG Christogram

In Exergue: COMOB 

Mint: Rome  September 492 to about March 493

Measurements: 20 mm, 4,18 g

This very rare solidus belongs to the first issue of solidi under Theoderic. The coin was struck in Rome, which fell to Theoderic in 490. The type with the Christogram is also known from Milan, which fell to Theoderic in 489. Ravenna, which fell to Theoderic in the spring of 493, did not produce this type with a Christogram.

The issue probably dates from a time when Theoderic's constitutional status, and perhaps the outcome of his military campaign against Odovacer, was still undecided. In 490 Theoderic sent embassies to Zeno and Anastasius to request a vestis regia, a royal regalia, but neither emperor seems to have granted it. Instead, after the murder of Odovacer in March 493, Theoderic was proclaimed king by the Goths, which probably encouraged him to replace the Christogram with his own monogram on the gold coins. This act was probably seen as a violation of imperial prerogative, and the situation was not rectified until 497, when Anastasius recognised Theodric as ruler, while Theodric removed his monogram from the gold coins.

In September 492, with the start of the new 15-year tax cycle (indiction) the legends in Constantinople were changed from PERP (perpetuus) to PP. This could suggest that the coin was minted after September 492, but not much later than March 493, when Theoderic was proclaimed king in Ravenna and started to use his own monogram of the coins.

Extremely Fine

BMC Vandals 62.

Ex Savoca Coins
Herakles Auction 2  3 Mar 2025, lot 132

Collection : Ostrogoths - Solidi