Eirene (797–802)
Obverse
Half-length representation of Eirene, wearing a crown with double pendilia surmounted by a cross and triangular projections, and a loros. She holds a globus cruciger in her right hand and in her left a cross scepter. Circular inscription beginning at top left. Border of dots.
EIRIHASIL....
Eirinῃ basil[issῃ]
Obverse
Half-length representation of Eirene, wearing a crown with double pendilia surmounted by a cross and triangular projections, and a loros. She holds a globus cruciger in her right hand and in her left a cross scepter. Circular inscription beginning at top left. Border of dots.
EIRIHASIL....
Eirinῃ basil[issῃ]
Reverse
Identical with the obverse.
EI............H
Ei[rinῃ basiliss]ῃ
Accession number | BZS.1958.106.504 |
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Diameter | 22.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 36.5; Zacos–Veglery, no. 41. |
Translation
Eirinῃ basilissῃ.
Eirene, empress.
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)
- 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)
Commentary
On her gold coins, the empress Eirene is represented wearing a loros and a crown surmounted by a cross, which is framed by two triangular projections (for example, DOC 3.1:1a.1 [pl. 15]). The crown type depicted here is L (on the types, see DOC 3.1: pp. 128 and 130).
This specimen, lacking a channel for suspension, might have been a lead coin or a pattern coin for Eirene's follis (for example, DOC 3.1:2.1 [pl. 15]). It should be noted, however, that the inscription is fuller on the seal (as on her solidi) than on her folles.