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Romanos I, Constantine VII, and Stephen (931–944)

 
 

Obverse

Half-length representation of Christ, lightly bearded, wearing a tunic and himation. He raises his right hand in blessing and holds a book with a richly ornamented cover in his left hand. He has a cross behind his head, each arm of which is decorated with a row of pellets between two heavy lines. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ISSXRISS

Iηsus Xristus.

Reverse

Three half-length figures: at center, Romanos I, with a long, parted beard, wearing a cross-topped crown with a jeweled band and a loros, and holding a globus in his right hand. At left,Constantine VII, beardless and smaller than Romanos, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a loros; and at right. Stephen, beardless and smaller than Romanos, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a loros. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ROACOSACESR

Roman(os), Constant(inos) ce St(ephanos) b(asilis) R(omaion)

Obverse

Half-length representation of Christ, lightly bearded, wearing a tunic and himation. He raises his right hand in blessing and holds a book with a richly ornamented cover in his left hand. He has a cross behind his head, each arm of which is decorated with a row of pellets between two heavy lines. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ISSXRISS

Iηsus Xristus.

Reverse

Three half-length figures: at center, Romanos I, with a long, parted beard, wearing a cross-topped crown with a jeweled band and a loros, and holding a globus in his right hand. At left,Constantine VII, beardless and smaller than Romanos, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a loros; and at right. Stephen, beardless and smaller than Romanos, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a loros. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ROACOSACESR

Roman(os), Constant(inos) ce St(ephanos) b(asilis) R(omaion)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.51
Diameter 30.0 mm; field: 26.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 62.1; Zacos–Veglery, no. 68a.

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

Translation

Iηsus Xristus. Romanos, Constantinos ce Stephanos basilis Romaion.

Jesus Christ. Romanos, Constantine, and Stephen, basileis of the Romans.

Commentary

Romanos’s son Stephen was crowned in 924, and the absence of Christopher indicates that this seal must be dated to the years after his death in 931.

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)