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Constantine apo eparchon and general kommerkiarios of Constantinople (700–702)

 
 

Obverse

An emperor (Tiberios III) standing, wearing a chlamys and cross-topped crown and holding a globus cruciger in his right hand and an akakia (?) in his left. At left and right, above and below: Ι|ΙἸ(νδικτιὼν) ιδ', Ἰ(νδικτιὼν) ιε'. Two circular inscriptions, the outer one beginning at 12 o'clock.

ΚΩΝΣΤΝΤΙΝΟΥΠΟΕΠ.ΧΩΝ.ΓΕΝΙΚΟΥΚΟΕΡΚΙ
ΡΙΟΥΠΟΘΗΚΗΣΚΩΝΣΝΤΙΝΩΠΟΛΕΩΣ

Κωνσταντίνου ἀπὸ ἐπά[ρ]χων [(καὶ)] γενικοῦ κομμερκιαρίου ἀποθήκης Κωνσ<τ>αντινωπόλεως

Reverse

Flat (imprint of burlap).

Obverse

An emperor (Tiberios III) standing, wearing a chlamys and cross-topped crown and holding a globus cruciger in his right hand and an akakia (?) in his left. At left and right, above and below: Ι|ΙἸ(νδικτιὼν) ιδ', Ἰ(νδικτιὼν) ιε'. Two circular inscriptions, the outer one beginning at 12 o'clock.

ΚΩΝΣΤΝΤΙΝΟΥΠΟΕΠ.ΧΩΝ.ΓΕΝΙΚΟΥΚΟΕΡΚΙ
ΡΙΟΥΠΟΘΗΚΗΣΚΩΝΣΝΤΙΝΩΠΟΛΕΩΣ

Κωνσταντίνου ἀπὸ ἐπά[ρ]χων [(καὶ)] γενικοῦ κομμερκιαρίου ἀποθήκης Κωνσ<τ>αντινωπόλεως

Reverse

Flat (imprint of burlap).

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1763
Diameter 38.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 23.3; Zacos–Veglery, no. 201.

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Κωνσταντίνου ἀπὸ ἐπάρχων καὶ γενικοῦ κομμερκιαρίου ἀποθήκης Κωνσταντινωπόλεως.

Constantine apo eparchon and general kommerkiarios of the apotheke of Constantinople.

Commentary

There are two mistakes in the spelling of "Constantinople": the engraver neglected to supply the letter Τ and inscribed an omega instead of the expected omicron-upsilon ligature. This specimen dates to the reign of Tiberios III. The double indiction indicates that the seal was issued in Indiction 15, but that Constantine held the post during the previous year as well.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)