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Romulus, The Last Emperor
Lot # 644
Romulus Augustus (475-476 AD). AV Tremissis. Mediolanum mint. Obv. D N ROMVLVS AGVSTVS PF AVG (AV ligate). Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev. Cross within wreath; COMOB in exergue. RIC X 3419; Lacam 37; Depeyrot 43/2 corr. (obv. legend); Toffanin 541/1; cf. Biaggi 2393; cf. Mazzini 10. AV. 1.47 g. 14.50 mm. RRR. Extremely rare. Superb coin, possibly the finest specimen offered in public sale. Sharply struck on regular flan, brilliant surfaces. Good EF. The last legitimate ruler of the Western Roman Empire was Julius Nepos, who remained the constitutional emperor in absentia from his base in Dalmatia. However, traditionally that honor has been incorrectly given to Romulus Augustus (sometimes surnamed Augustulus, 'the little emperor'), who, after Nepos fled Italy, was hailed emperor as a figurehead of his fathers army. His reign lasted just ten months before Germans under Odovacar withdrew their support and deposed both the young emperor and his father. The Germans allowed the former boy-emperor live, and provided him with an ample pension so he could engage in an early retirement to an estate on the Gulf of Naples in Campania, where he is said to have lived for at least thirty more years.