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Nikephoros I and Staurakios (803–11) or (solely) Staurakios (ca. 811)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of Staurakios, beardless, wearing a crown with a cross and a chlamys pinned with a fibula on his right shoulder. He holds a globus cruciger in his right hand and in his left an akakia. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

SAVRACISESPOΘ

Stauracis despo(tes) Θ.

Reverse

Blank.

Obverse

Bust of Staurakios, beardless, wearing a crown with a cross and a chlamys pinned with a fibula on his right shoulder. He holds a globus cruciger in his right hand and in his left an akakia. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

SAVRACISESPOΘ

Stauracis despo(tes) Θ.

Reverse

Blank.

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4276 (formerly DO 55.1.4276)
Diameter 26.0 mm; field: 18.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 41.1; Zacos–Veglery, no. 47.

Translation

Stauracis despotes.

Staurakios, despotes.

Commentary

Nikephoros promoted his son to the rank of co-emperor in December of 803, who succeeded him in 811 before being deposed by his brother-in-law Michael, reigning only two months (26 July to 2 October 811). It is not clear if this seal dates from the period of Staurakios’s joint reign with his father or his sole reign. The fact that the emperor appears beardless and is identified as despotes suggests that it derives from the period 803–11. On the other hand, it is possible that time restrictions did not allow for a new boulloterion to be cut and that an old one was used, but with the bust of Nikephoros effaced.

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)