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Romanos I, Christophoros, and Constantine VII (922/24–31)

 
 

Obverse

Half-length representation of Christ, bearded, wearing a tunic and himation. He raises his right hand in blessing and holds a book in his left. He has a cross behind his head. Remains of a circular inscription at right. Border of dots.

.......RISS

[Iηsus X]ristus.

Reverse

Three half-length figures,only the left and center visible: in center, Romanos I, bearded, wearing a jeweled crown surmounted by a cross and a loros; at left, Christophoros, beardless and more diminutive than Romanos, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a chlamys. Constantine VII, at right, is missing. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ROAˊXRIS. . .

Roman(os), Xrist[of(oros) ce Const(antinos)].

Obverse

Half-length representation of Christ, bearded, wearing a tunic and himation. He raises his right hand in blessing and holds a book in his left. He has a cross behind his head. Remains of a circular inscription at right. Border of dots.

.......RISS

[Iηsus X]ristus.

Reverse

Three half-length figures,only the left and center visible: in center, Romanos I, bearded, wearing a jeweled crown surmounted by a cross and a loros; at left, Christophoros, beardless and more diminutive than Romanos, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a chlamys. Constantine VII, at right, is missing. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ROAˊXRIS. . .

Roman(os), Xrist[of(oros) ce Const(antinos)].

Accession number BZS.1958.106.569 (formerly DO 58.106.569)
Diameter 31.0 mm; field: 21.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 59.4.

Translation

Iηsus Xristus.
Romanos, Xristoforos ce Constantinos.

Jesus Christ.
Romanos, Christophoros, and Constantine

Commentary

Romanos I’s son, Christophoros, was crowned augustus by Constantine VII on 20 May 921 and died in 931. The dating is based upon a novel promulgated in April of 922 in the names of Romanos, Constantine, and Christophoros. Grierson has assigned to the period ca. 930 gold coins depicting the three emperors together together (DOC 3.2:8.1 [pl. 36]; BNC 2: p. 562).

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)