Basil II and Constantine VIII (976-1025)
Obverse
Half-length representation of Christ wearing a tunic and himation and holding a book in the left hand. Inscription visible at left. Border of dots. Christ has a nimbus cruciger; each crossarm is decorated with two pellets.
..MA.....
[Ἐμ]μα[νουήλ].
Reverse
Two figures: at left, a half-length representation of Basil II bearded, wearing a crown with a cross and pendilia and a loros; and at right a representation of Constantine VIII. He is shown half-length wearing a crown with a cross and pendilia and a chlamys. They hold between them a long patriarchal cross. Circular inscription. Border of dots.
ASILCCOS.......
Basil(ios) c(e) Cons[tanti(nos) b(asilis) R(omaion)].
Obverse
Half-length representation of Christ wearing a tunic and himation and holding a book in the left hand. Inscription visible at left. Border of dots. Christ has a nimbus cruciger; each crossarm is decorated with two pellets.
..MA.....
[Ἐμ]μα[νουήλ].
Reverse
Two figures: at left, a half-length representation of Basil II bearded, wearing a crown with a cross and pendilia and a loros; and at right a representation of Constantine VIII. He is shown half-length wearing a crown with a cross and pendilia and a chlamys. They hold between them a long patriarchal cross. Circular inscription. Border of dots.
ASILCCOS.......
Basil(ios) c(e) Cons[tanti(nos) b(asilis) R(omaion)].
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.579 (formerly DO 58.106.579) |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 33.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 69.12. |
Translation
Basilios ce Constantinos basilis Romaion.
Basil and Constantine, basileis of the Romans.
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)
Commentary
On the obverse, at 9 o’clock, one distinctly sees the letter z, as on the following specimen. One wonders if the letter relates to a particular stock of lead blanks. BZS.1958.106.579 and BZS.1955.1.4310 are not, however, from the same boulloterion.
Constantine VIII is almost of equal size with Basil. Cf. Likhachev, Molivdovuly, pl. LXXVI, no. 12, for a seal on which one sees in the circular inscription on the reverse the use of the abbreviation c(e) and a depiction of Constantine as virtually the same height as Basil.