Leo III the "Isaurian", with Constantine V, 717-741. Tremissis (Electrum, 15 mm, 1.32 g, 6 h), Rome, 721-741. D NO LЄO-N PA MЧL Crowned and draped bust of Leo III facing, holding globus cruciger in his right hand and akakia in his left. Rev. D N CONTANTINЧ Crowned and draped bust of Constantine V facing, holding globus cruciger in his right hand and akakia in his left; in field to left and right, eight-pointed star. DOC 91 (only one example listed). MIB -. SB 1534. Extremely rare and in exceptionally well preserved. A wonderful example of this historically important issue, very well struck and with an illustrious 18th century pedigree. A few very light marks, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.



As one of the last Byzantine coins minted in Rome, this exceptionally well-preserved tremissis holds significant historical value. Rome, the ancient capital of the Roman Empire, had lost much of its influence since its prime in the first centuries of the Common Era. Politically, the center of power had shifted to Ravenna and especially to Constantinople by the 5th century. Demographically, the Rome of the 8th century - with only a few tens of thousands of inhabitants - bore little resemblance to the ancient metropolis of perhaps more than a million. Despite this decline, Rome retained its cultural and political gravitas as the seat of the Bishop of Rome and a symbol of enduring influence. By the 8th century, the city was only loosely connected to Byzantium, and the emperor vied for influence with both the Bishop of Rome and the Lombard and Frankish princes and kings.

The very last Byzantine coins in Rome were ultimately minted under Constantine V, the successor of Leo III. The few Byzantine coins minted in Rome in the 8th century are generally of poor quality - yet this specimen stands out, as it is not only beautifully toned but also exceptionally well-struck and preserved and arguably one of the finest known examples.

What makes this piece even more remarkable is its provenance: it once belonged to the collection of Apostolo Zeno (1668–1750), the renowned Venetian scholar, poet, and librettist. Zeno’s extraordinary coin collection was auctioned in Vienna in three parts in 1955-1957. Apostolo Zeno, a scion of an old Venetian noble family, pursued an early career as a poet while also dedicating himself to history, philology, and numismatics. He co-founded the Accademia degli Animosi (1691) and the Giornale de’ letterati d’Italia (1710), Italy’s first critical literary journal. In 1718, he moved to the court of Charles VI in Vienna, where he served as court poet and historian while also managing the imperial coin collection. Upon returning to Venice in 1729, he continued to study and expand his personal coin collection until his death in 1750. This coin, exceptionally well-preserved for an 8th-century Byzantine coin from Rome, originates from Zeno’s illustrious holdings, giving it a provenance spanning nearly three centuries.