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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;JayAg47, post: 24811788, member: 112342&quot;]Still can&#039;t believe I own this coin. This was not a planned purchase or anything, but I just happened to find this coin at the right time and at the right price.</p><p><br /></p><p>A coin minted around the year the Roman empire fell. Moreover, a solidus issued by Basiliscus, the general/emperor who pretty much sealed the deal for the end of the Western half at the Battle of Cape Bon.</p><p><br /></p><p>A short summary of Basiliscus, a significant figure but now just a footnote in history. Serving as Magister Militum of Thrace under his brother-in-law Leo I, he proved to be an ineffective general during the ill-fated invasion of the Vandalic kingdom. In a truce negotiated with Vandal king Gaiseric, Basiliscus unwittingly allowed the construction of fire ships, leading to the defeat of Roman armada. With the loss of Africa, Rome&#039;s breadbasket was gone. This military failure also resulted in a staggering loss of approximately 59,000 kilograms of gold and nearly plunged the Roman Empire into bankruptcy for the subsequent three decades.</p><p><br /></p><p>Despite his shortcomings, Basiliscus received a pardon facilitated by his sister and retired. However, amidst the political upheaval following Leo I&#039;s death, Basiliscus seized power, toppling Zeno and became the emperor for a brief period from January 9, 475, until August 476 AD. Zeno, informed of the conspiracy, managed to escape in time, returning in 476 with an army to capture Basiliscus. The captured emperor was subsequently exiled to Cappadocia, where historical accounts diverge on his fate—either execution by beheading or imprisoned in a dried-up cistern and left to starve to death.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1588079[/ATTACH]</p><p>Obv: Basiliscus in Military dress standing facing. DN BASILISCVS PP AVG</p><p>Rev: Victory standing left supporting long jeweled cross. In right field star. VICTORIA AVGGG Δ.&nbsp; CONOB in exergue.</p><p>Weight: 4.45g</p><p>475 - 476 AD</p><p>RIC 1003</p><p>Ex Diana Numismatica Rome October 2014</p><p><br /></p><p>This is my second solidus, here&#039;s Basiliscus with Justinian the Great. I like the contrast between the coins of a Roman emperor deemed one of the least effective and another hailed as the most effective, the latter successfully accomplishing what the former had been unable to complete.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1588080[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Please share your late Roman/Germanic coinage![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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