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Michael VII Doukas (1071–1078)

 
 

Obverse

Christ seated on a square-backed throne. The upper part of the throne is decorated at left and right with five pellets. He wears a tunic and himation. He is shown blessing with the right hand and holding a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm is decorated with one pellet. Sigla: ΙΣ̅ΧΣ̅ : (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

Michael VII standing on a round dais and wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΜΙΧΑΗΛΑΥΤ,ΚΡ,Τ,Ρ,Μ,ΟΔΚ,

Μιχαὴλ αὐτ(ο)κρ(ά)τ(ωρ) Ῥωμ(αίων) Δούκ(ας)

Obverse

Christ seated on a square-backed throne. The upper part of the throne is decorated at left and right with five pellets. He wears a tunic and himation. He is shown blessing with the right hand and holding a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm is decorated with one pellet. Sigla: ΙΣ̅ΧΣ̅ : (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

Michael VII standing on a round dais and wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΜΙΧΑΗΛΑΥΤ,ΚΡ,Τ,Ρ,Μ,ΟΔΚ,

Μιχαὴλ αὐτ(ο)κρ(ά)τ(ωρ) Ῥωμ(αίων) Δούκ(ας)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1672
Diameter 31.0 mm; field: 27.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 84.3; Zacos–Veglery, no. 95b.

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Μιχαὴλ αὐτοκράτωρ Ῥωμαίων Δούκας.

Michael Doukas, emperor of the Romans.

Commentary

The emperor’s crown does not appear to be surmounted by a cross.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 6, Emperors, Patriarchs of Constantinople, Addenda (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)