Aelia Verina, Augusta, 457-484. Solidus (Gold, 20 mm, 4.41 g, 5 h), Constantinopolis, circa 462-466. AEL ЧERI-NA AVG Pearl-diademed and draped bust of Aelia Verina to right, wearing single pendant earring and pearl necklace; above, manus dei holding wreath. Rev. VICTORI-A AVGGG / CONOB Victory standing front, head to left, holding long jeweled cross in her right hand; in field to right, star. Depeyrot 93/2. MIRB 4b. RIC 607. Very rare. Minor areas of weakness and with a few light marks, otherwise, about extremely fine.

Aelia Verina, wife of the Roman emperor Leo I (457-474), was a politically ambitious figure, often intervening in the affairs of the imperial court. She played a key role in the overthrow of Emperor Zeno by her brother, Basiliscus, and continued to influence imperial politics even after his reign. Ultimately, Verina met her end at the fortress of Papyrius in Isauria, where she was with the usurpers Illus and Leontius, who were fighting Zeno while he was in hiding. It remains uncertain whether she was executed or died of natural causes. The gold coinage of Aelia Verina is very rare. There seem to be two issues of solidi: the first struck in 462 or 466, and the second in the 470s. This particular solidus belongs to the first issue, which lacks the officina mark found on the solidi struck in the 470s.