Anthemius, 467-472. Solidus (Gold, 19 mm, 4.38 g, 6 h). D N ANTHE-MIVS P F AVG Helmeted, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Anthemius facing, his head turned slightly to right, holding spear over his shoulder in his right hand. Rev. SALVS R-EI P-VBLICAE / COMOB Anthemius I and Leo I standing facing in military attire, each holding a spear and supporting a globe cruciger together; between them, ROMA-monogram above pellet. Depeyrot 65/2. RIC 2831. Rare. A few scrapes, with scratches and nicks, otherwise, nearly very fine.


In April 467, Leo I sent Anthemius to Italy to end the interregnum that had followed the death of Libius Severus in 465. Unlike his predecessor, Anthemius was no mere puppet ruler; he was an experienced general and one of the most powerful men in the Eastern Roman Empire, having served as magister militum praesentalis under Marcian (450–457), whose daughter he had married. Eager to remove a potential rival, Leo I fully backed Anthemius, supporting him with massive military forces from the Eastern Empire.

The new emperor’s primary objective was to heal the festering wound of the Western Empire: the loss of its wealthy African provinces to Gaiseric. However, the grand Roman expeditionary fleet was burned in a surprise attack by the cunning Vandal king in 468. Defeated, Anthemius retreated to Rome, where he spent the following years in conflict with the local nobility and the bishops of the Eternal City.

His reign came to a violent end in 472 when Ricimer appointed a new puppet emperor, Olybrius, who was quickly recognized by Leo I. When Rome fell to Ricimer’s troops, Anthemius was captured and executed on 11 July 472, bringing the rule of the last truly independent Western Roman emperor to a brutal conclusion.