Marinos/Marianos (?) patrikios (seventh/eighth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V). Border of dots.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει
Reverse
Cruciform monogram, reading Μαρίνῳ/Μαριανῷ (?). In the quarters: ΠΑΤΡ|ΙΚΙΩ. Border of dots.
- ι - μ - ν - - ω
Μαρίνῳ/Μαριανῷ (?) πατρικίῳ
Accession number | BZS.1947.2.1657 |
---|---|
Diameter | 26.0 mm; field: 20.0 mm |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει Μαρίνῳ/Μαριανῷ (?) πατρικίῳ.
Theotokos, help Marinos/Marianos (?) patrikios.
Commentary
In his unpublished catalogue of the Shaw collection, Laurent reads the reverse monogram as Justinian (Ἰουστινιανῷ). This seems exceedingly unlikely, as there is no clear ου ligature at the top, the Ι he reads at the left is much more likely an Η or a Μ, and what he reads as a Sigma-Tau ligature at the top is more likely a backwards Ρ with corrosion giving the impression of a Τ. If Laurent read the ΣΤ at the top and the Ι at the left correctly, then still Ἀναστασίῳ (Anastasios) would be better than Justinian, because there is assuredly not an ου ligature in the monogram. Even though they must be regarded as provisional based on the poor state in particular of the left and lower arms of the monogram, Marinos or Marianos are at least more satisfactory readings than Justinian or Anastasios.