He did send the regalia to Constantinople, because he wanted Zeno to wear them. The two halves had been ruled sometimes by different emperors and at other times

He did send the regalia to Constantinople, because he wanted Zeno to wear them. The two halves had been ruled sometimes by different emperors and at other times by a single person (Constantine, Julian etc.). As far as anyone at the time was concerned, things were legally returning to the state of 395 AD with Zeno instead of Theodosius as the joint emperor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Nepos#Exile_in_Dalmatia_(475–480) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Nepos#Exile_in_Dalmatia... (This was no mere pretense either. When Zeno became dissatisfied with Odoacer he sent in Theodoric to depose him. When Theodoric's daughter was assassinated, the new emperor sent in the army and took back direct control of Italy.)