Constans II and Constantine IV (654–59)
Obverse
Three-quarter length representation of the Mother of God, wearing a chiton and maphorion, and holding Christ, who is framed by an oval mandorla, before her. A cross potent is at right. Wreath border.
Reverse
Bust of Constans II at left, with long beard and mustache, and a smaller bust of Constantine IV at right. Each wears a crown with a cross and a chlamys. Each emperor wears his hair long at the sides and curled inward. A small cross in the upper field, between the two figures. A circular inscription beginning at left. Wreath border.
NCON....IN............
D(omini) n(ostri) Con[stan]tinu[s c(e) Constantin(us)].
Obverse
Three-quarter length representation of the Mother of God, wearing a chiton and maphorion, and holding Christ, who is framed by an oval mandorla, before her. A cross potent is at right. Wreath border.
Reverse
Bust of Constans II at left, with long beard and mustache, and a smaller bust of Constantine IV at right. Each wears a crown with a cross and a chlamys. Each emperor wears his hair long at the sides and curled inward. A small cross in the upper field, between the two figures. A circular inscription beginning at left. Wreath border.
NCON....IN............
D(omini) n(ostri) Con[stan]tinu[s c(e) Constantin(us)].
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.4263 (formerly DO 55.1.4263) |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 28.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 20.1; Zacos–Veglery, no. 17a. For a similar specimen see Likhachev, “Nekotorye,” 516, fig. 41. |
Translation
Domini nostri Constantinus ce Constantinus.
Our lords Constans and Constantine.
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)
- Nekotorye stareishie tipy pechati vizantijskich imperatorov (Open in Zotero)
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, Vol. 2, Phocas to Theodosius III (602–717) (Open in Zotero)
- Moneta Imperii Byzantini: Rekonstruktion des Prägeaufbaues auf synoptisch-tabellarischer Grundlage (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Constans II took his son Constantine IV as a colleague on 13 April 654. Consequently seals and coins (for example, DOC 2.2:25h [pl. 24]; MIB 3: Prägetabelle 5, nos. 26–28) bearing depictions of the two rulers are assigned from that date until June of 659, when Constans associated with himself two more sons, Herakleios and Tiberios. As with coins, Constans during this second period of his reign is depicted with a longer beard and mustache.
The transcription of the reverse legend is based on coins, and represents one of several possible resolutions.