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John imperial spatharokandidatos and epi tes megales hetaireias (tenth/eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St. John the Baptist, with long hair and beard, holding long cross. Inscription (note the transposition of the alpha and omega): Ι|ΑΩ|ΝΝ|Η: ὁ ἅγιος Ἰωάννης. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription in five lines, with decoration above. Border of dots.

···
ΙΑ
Ν,ΣΠΑΘ,
ΚΑΝ,Ε
Π,Τ,ΜΕΓ,Ε
ΤΕΡΙΑ

Ἰωάννης βασιλικὸς σπαθαροκανδιδᾶτος καὶ ἐπ τῆς μεγάλης ἑτερίας

Obverse

Bust of St. John the Baptist, with long hair and beard, holding long cross. Inscription (note the transposition of the alpha and omega): Ι|ΑΩ|ΝΝ|Η: ὁ ἅγιος Ἰωάννης. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription in five lines, with decoration above. Border of dots.

···
ΙΑ
Ν,ΣΠΑΘ,
ΚΑΝ,Ε
Π,Τ,ΜΕΓ,Ε
ΤΕΡΙΑ

Ἰωάννης βασιλικὸς σπαθαροκανδιδᾶτος καὶ ἐπ τῆς μεγάλης ἑτερίας

Accession number BZS.1947.2.218
Diameter 23.0 mm

Translation

Ἰωάννης βασιλικὸς σπαθαροκανδιδᾶτος καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς μεγάλης ἑτερίας.

John, imperial spatharokandidatos and epi tes megales hetaireias.

Commentary

In his unpublished catalogue of the Shaw Collection, Laurent points out that this based on the dating of this seal, this could be the epi tes megales hetaireias John Choinos/Choirinos (cf. PG 110, 1197 A, PG 119, 488 C, 820 B) or John Garidas, c. 913 (cf. PG 122, 16 A, 110, 1104 C, 1133 C, 1141 D).