Anthemius, 467-472. Solidus (Gold, 20 mm, 4.51 g, 6 h), Rome, 468. D N ANTHE-MIVS P F AVG Pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust of Anthemius facing, his head turned slightly to right, holding spear in his right hand and with a shield, decorated with a horseman, over his left shoulder. Rev. SALVS R-EI P-VBLICAE / CORMOB Anthemius I and Leo I standing facing, each holding a spear and supporting a globe cruciger together; between them, christogram. Depeyrot 61/1. RIC 2823. Rare. A fresh and lustrous example. Area of weakness on the reverse, otherwise, good extremely fine.


Anthemius was sent to Italy in April 467 by Leo I to end the interregnum which had followed the passing of Libius Severus in 465. Unlike his predecessor, Anthemius was by no means a mere puppet ruler: he was an experienced general and one of the most powerful men of the Eastern Roman Empire, having served as magister militum praesentalis of Marcian (450-457), whose daughter he had married. Happy to get rid of a potential rival, Leo I put in all the might of the Eastern Empire and supported Anthemius with massive military forces. The new emperor's primary objective was to heal the festering wound of the Western Empire, the loss of the rich African provinces to Gaiseric. Alas, the massive united Roman expeditionary fleet was burned down in a surprise attack by the clever Vandalic King in 468 and Anthemius retreated to Rome, where he spent the next years quarreling with the local nobility and the bishops of the eternal city. The end came 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, thus bringing the rule of the last independent Western Roman Emperor to a violent end.