Zeno, Julius Nepos, Odovacar

[Numis Fan]

Hello,

How do you recognize if the coin were struck under Julius Nepos or Odovacar, under the name of Zeno?

[Tejas552]

Hi Numis Fan,

Julius Nepos was emperor in the West. He had his coins struck in his own name. They are thus easily recognizable.
Zeno was emperor in the East. He ruled from 474 to 475 and again from 476 to 491. Coins in his name were struck in the eastern and the western parts of the empire. Coins struck in the western part of the empire were issued by Odovacar who never infringed on the emperor's perogative to issue gold coins in his own name.

Best
Dirk

[Österreicher]

Julius nepos was the last regular emperor in the East.He got murdered in 480