Aelia Zenonis, wife of Basiliscus Æ 4 Constantinopolis (?) 475-476, Æ 10mm., 0.38g. A ZENO – NIS Pearl-diademed bust r. Rev. ZENONIS in monogram. RIC 1017. MIRB 14.

Extremely rare. Fine.

Aelia Zenonis was hailed Augusta after her husband Basiliscus became emperor in 475 by virtue of a palace coup that sent the emperor Zeno into exile. Basiliscus was not a capable ruler, and the fate of his wife was sealed by his incompetence. However, Zenonis was not without fault herself, and she contributed greatly to her husband’s demise. She reportedly had a love affair with her husband’s nephew Armatus, and thus persuaded Basiliscus to appoint Armatus his co-consul of 476 and Master of Soldiers of Thrace. Though the former would be expected for a man who was a member of the imperial family, the latter infuriated the other Master of Soldiers, the Ostrogoth Strabo, who thereafter was no supporter of Basiliscus. Though Armatus’ flamboyant nature was fueled by his newfound success, Basiliscus still entrusted him with the important task of hunting down the former emperor Zeno, who was in exile in Isauria. Once he met with his intended victim, though, Armatus switch his allegiance to Zeno in exchange for promised rewards. From that moment on there was nothing but bad news for the imperial family: Zeno’s return to Constantinople was a success, Basiliscus was deposed and sent to Cappadocia with Zenonis and their children where they were cruelly starved to death. Even the turncoat Armatus would not survive long before Zeno had him executed.