Anthemius

Unlike at any other time in Roman history up until this point, following the death of Libius Severus there was no one to take his place in imperial succession. Ricimer was the powerful general in charge of the army and for over a year and a half he handled the administrative duties of the empire. Not that that changed anything. Ricimer had been the real power in the Western Empire for several years. Severus had just been his charade of an emperor placed there to appease the Senate and the rest of the Roman world which expected a Roman leader (Ricimer himself being of barbarian descent).

However, Ricimer had no one else in mind as window dressing after Severus' passing. Still, appearances or no an emperor had to be formally named sooner or later. In the camp of Ricimer a Roman of barbarian sympathies, Olybrius, had been proposed and it seemed as though he would be elevated. But out east Leo I had had ample time to hear of the developments in Rome. Being far more powerful politically and militarily, he decided to appoint a puppet of his own, Anthemius, to head the Western court. Deciding not to risk a civil war he could definitely not win, Ricimer stepped aside and welcomed Anthemius.

But Anthemius was no idle pretender. He had served Leo faithfully as a general and had won several key battles on his behalf. In fact, he was so popular over there that he was expected to be the one to succeed Marcian. So Leo in effect rid himself of a future potential problem by both promoting Anthemius and removing him from the spotlight.

But the new emperor was like a fish out of water. He lacked the resources to mount an effective campaign to regain Gaul or Spain and the whole of Africa had now been decidedly lost to the Romans following the fiasco of the expedition led by Basiliscus. He ruled for five uneasy years with Ricimer until tensions strained past the breaking point. Ricimer marched towards Rome at the head of a large army and laid siege to a weakened Rome. As expected, the meager forces of Anthemius gave way and the emperor was captured and executed.

AU Solidus

RIC 2816 Solidus Obv: DNANTHEMIVSPFAVG - Helmeted, diademed, cuirassed bust facing, holding spear over shoulder and shield.
Rev: SALVSREIPVBLICAE Exe: /COMOB - Anthemius and Leo I standing, facing, each holding spear and together cross on globe. $5,296 2/18/02.

AU Semissis

RIC 2837, Lacam 110 Semissis Obv: DNANTHEMIVSPFAVG - Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: SALVSREIPVBLICAE Exe: COMOB - Wreath. 467-472 (Rome). $1,950 1/13/03.

AU Tremissis

RIC 2842, Lacam 125 Tremissis Obv: DNANTHEMIVSPFAVG - Diademed (rosettes), draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: No legend Exe: COMOB - Wreath, cross within. 467-472 (Rome).