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Constantine VII (27 January–6 April 945)

 
 

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 nimbus cruciger, each limb of which is decorated with a row of three dots. Remains of a circular inscription at left. Border of dots.

IS.........

Iηs[us Xristus].

Reverse

Half-length representation of Constantine VII, wearing a crown with simple pendilia, a jeweled band and a cross. He wears a loros and holds a globus cruciger surmounted by a patriarchal cross in his right hand. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

COS...AASI..

Cons[tan(tinos)] aut(ocrator) basi[l(eus) R(o)]m(aion).

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 nimbus cruciger, each limb of which is decorated with a row of three dots. Remains of a circular inscription at left. Border of dots.

IS.........

Iηs[us Xristus].

Reverse

Half-length representation of Constantine VII, wearing a crown with simple pendilia, a jeweled band and a cross. He wears a loros and holds a globus cruciger surmounted by a patriarchal cross in his right hand. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

COS...AASI..

Cons[tan(tinos)] aut(ocrator) basi[l(eus) R(o)]m(aion).

Accession number BZS.1958.106.575 (formerly DO 58.106.575)
Diameter 32.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 63.2; Zacos–Veglery, no. 70b.

Translation

Iηsus Xristus.
Constantinos autocrator basileus Romaion.

Jesus Christ.
Constantine, autokrator and basileus of the Romans.

Commentary

A close parallel with this seal is the image of the emperor appearing on the reverse of a gold coin in BNC 2 (pl. 77/11), which Morrisson has assigned to 27 January–6 April 945.

With Constantine VII, Christ now begins to appear on seals with a nimbus cruciger.

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 des monnaies byzantines de la Bibliothèque nationale (Open in Zotero)