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Solidus - Libius Severus VICTORIA AVGGG, Mediolanum
| Issuer | Western Roman Empire (Rome) |
|---|---|
| Year | 461-465 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round (irregular) |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The emperor stands facing, helmeted and in military dress, holding a long jewelled cross-sceptre in his right hand and a Victory statuette on a globe in his left hand; his left foot tramples upon a captive or serpent at his feet. A small Victory figure appears to the right, crowning the emperor. The legend VICTORIA AVGGG surrounds the field, with the mint mark MD in the left field and the exergual inscription COMOB denoting the standard fineness of the gold. The composition follows the established Victory reverse type common to late Western Roman solidi. |
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| Mintage | ND (461-465) |
| Additional information |
Libius Severus was a puppet emperor in every meaningful sense — elevated in 461 by the generalissimo Ricimer after the murder of Majorian, he held the title while Ricimer held the power. The Eastern court under Leo I refused to recognize him at all for most of his reign, leaving the Western Empire diplomatically isolated and territorially shrinking. Milan, rather than Ravenna, served as the mint for this issue, reflecting the fragmented administrative geography of a collapsing state.
Severus died in 465, almost certainly poisoned by Ricimer, after which the Western throne sat vacant for over a year while Ricimer negotiated with Constantinople for an acceptable candidate.