Leo II, with Zeno, 474. Solidus (Gold, 21 mm, 4.48 g, 6 h), Constantinopolis. D N LEO ET Z-ENO P P AVG Pearl-diademed, helmeted and cuirassed bust of Zeno facing, his head turned slightly to right, holding spear in his right hand and with a shield, decorated with a horseman spearing a fallen foe, over his left shoulder. Rev. SALVS REI - PVBLICAE Δ / COMOB Leo II, smaller and on the left, and Zeno, larger and on the right, seated facing on double throne, both wearing consular robes and holding mappa in their right hands; between their heads, cross; above, star. Depeyrot 98/1. RIC 803. Rare. A very attractive example of this unusual dynastic issue. Struck from a somewhat corroded obverse die, otherwise, good extremely fine.


Zeno was an Isaurian who was called to Constantinople by Leo I to serve as a counterweight to the powerful magister militum, Aspar. Eventually, Zeno married Leo’s daughter, Ariadne, and they had a son, also named Leo. The Constantinopolitans strongly disliked Zeno for his Isaurian background, however, and when Leo died, Leo II was made Augustus with his father as co-emperor. Tragically, the boy died mere months after being crowned, and his father was left to rule alone in the face of a hostile city.