Basil I and Constantine (869–879)
Obverse
Half-length representation of Christ, lightly bearded, wearing a tunic and himation. He raises his right hand in blessing and holds in his left a book with a cover ornamented with four rows of pellets. He has a cross behind his head. Circular inscription along the circumference. Border of dots.
ISSXRISOS
Iηsus Xristos
Reverse
Two half-length figures: at left, Basil I, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a loros; at right, Constantine, beardless and more diminutive, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a chlamys. The two figures hold between them a labarum ornamented with a cross in center and streamers. Circular inscription. Border of dots.
ASILIOSECOSAA.
Basilius et Constant(inus) aug(usti)
Obverse
Half-length representation of Christ, lightly bearded, wearing a tunic and himation. He raises his right hand in blessing and holds in his left a book with a cover ornamented with four rows of pellets. He has a cross behind his head. Circular inscription along the circumference. Border of dots.
ISSXRISOS
Iηsus Xristos
Reverse
Two half-length figures: at left, Basil I, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a loros; at right, Constantine, beardless and more diminutive, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a chlamys. The two figures hold between them a labarum ornamented with a cross in center and streamers. Circular inscription. Border of dots.
ASILIOSECOSAA.
Basilius et Constant(inus) aug(usti)
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.42 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 28.0 mm; field: 25.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 51.8. |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Iηsus Xristos.
Basilius et Constantinus augusti.
Jesus Christ.
Basil and Constantine, augusti.
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)
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, Vol. 3, Leo III to Nicephorus III (717–1081) (Open in Zotero)
- Catalogue des monnaies byzantines de la Bibliothèque nationale (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
On solidi dating from Basil’s joint reign with Constantine, the obverse depicts Christ seated on a lyre-backed throne, while on the reverse are Basil to left and Constantine to right, holding between them a patriarchal cross on long shaft. Basil wears a loros, and Constantine a chlamys (DOC 3.2:2a1 [pl. 30]). In common with the coinage as well is the employment of "augusti," present on the class 2 solidus as well as class 2d follis (DOC 3.2:9d.1 [pl. 31]).
Grierson explains the awkward relationship between the chronology of coinage and the depiction of Basil’s co-emperors in terms of the former's antipathy towards his middle son, Leo. Dating here follows that of the class 2 solidus, up to Constantine’s death in 879, rather than the class 2 follis, which includes Leo after his association with Basil in 870, and reflects the degree to which the design of imperial seals followed that of the solidus.
The labarum, decorated with a cross in center and streamers, is found on folles minted at Constantinople in the name of Basil I and Constantine and attributed by Grierson to the years 868–70 (see: DOC 3.2:8a.1–8a.4, and the table at BNC 2: p. 538).
The depiction of Contantine on this seal has been deliberately effaced with repeated hammer blows; the editor of DO Seals 6 suggests that this might possibly be a damnatio memoriae.
Note that Basil's name ends in US, in contrast to the usual OS.