Basiliscus
475-476 AD
Brother of Verina
Usurper against Zeno
Basiliscus was the brother of the Empress Aelia Verina, wife of the former Emperor Leo I and mother-in-law of the Emperor Zeno. Basiliscus was appointed commander of the great armada which was sent against the Vandals in 468 AD. However, following the failure of that expedition, which was due his own incompetence, Basiliscus initially retired in disgrace to Heraclea. Six years later, his sister convinced him to join with her in opposition to her son-in-law the Emperor Zeno, who had married her daughter Ariadne.
On January 9th, 475 AD, Zeno was forced to flee from Constantinople and Basiliscus was proclaimed Emperor. Nonetheless, Basiliscus became an extremely unpopular ruler due to his unorthodox religious policies. In August of 476 AD, Zeno returned to Constantinople and Basiliscus was deposed. He was sent, along with his wife, Zenonis, and his son, Marcus, to Cucusus in Cappadocia, where all three were beheaded.
Monetary System
Mints: Constantinople, Milan, Revenna, Rome, Thessalonica
Obverse Legends:
Basiliscus alone
D N bASILISCUS PP AVG
D N BASILISCUS PERT AVG
D N BASILISCVS P F AVG
D N BASILISCUS P AVG
Basiliscus and Marcus
D N bASILISCI ET MARC P AVG
DENOMINATIONS
AU Solidus (4.50 grams)
AU Semissis (2.25 grams)
AU Tremissis (1.45 grams)
AR Miliarense (4.50 grams)
AR 1/2 Siliqua (1.12 grams)
AE4
with his son Marcus
AU Solidus (4.50 grms)
