Odovacar, king, 476-493. Solidus (Gold, 20 mm, 4.41 g, 6 h), struck in the name of Zeno (476-491), Rome. D N ZENO PER P F AVς Helmeted, pearl-diademed and cuirassed bust of Zeno facing, his head turned slightly to right, holding spear over his shoulder in his right hand and with a shield, decorated with a horseman spearing fallen foe, on his left shoulder. Rev. VICTORI-A AVGGG Γ / COMOB Victory standing left, holding long jeweled cross; in field to right, small star. RIC 3654. Very rare. Struck from a somewhat worn obverse die, otherwise, very fine.


The barbarian Odovacar hailed from the middle Danube region, and is most famous for deposing the child-emperor, Romulus Augustus, thus ending Roman rule in the west. Upon the deposition of Rome' last emperor Odovacar set himself up as king of Italy, paying lip service to both Julius Nepos, a former western Roman emperor, and Zeno, the emperor of the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. His reign was mostly peaceful until the later 480s, when he attempted to depose Zeno after being encouraged by Zeno's Master of Soldiers. Zeno appointed the Ostrogoth Theoderic the Great to oppose Odovacar, which he did successfully, eventually murdering the Italian king at a banquet in 493.