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Justinian II (687–95)

 
 

Obverse

The Mother of God standing, wearing a chiton and maphorion, and holding Christ before her, with her left hand below his feet. Her left leg seems to be bent at the knee. A cross potent at left and right. No border visible.

Reverse

Half-length representation of Justinian II with a short beard, wearing a crown with a cross on top and a chlamys, and holding a globus in his right hand. He wears his hair long at the sides and curled. His sidelocks at left are combed downward and outward, while those at right are combed downward and inward. A cross potent at left and right. No border visible.

Obverse

The Mother of God standing, wearing a chiton and maphorion, and holding Christ before her, with her left hand below his feet. Her left leg seems to be bent at the knee. A cross potent at left and right. No border visible.

Reverse

Half-length representation of Justinian II with a short beard, wearing a crown with a cross on top and a chlamys, and holding a globus in his right hand. He wears his hair long at the sides and curled. His sidelocks at left are combed downward and outward, while those at right are combed downward and inward. A cross potent at left and right. No border visible.

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4265 (formerly DO 55.1.4265)
Diameter 26.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 25.1; Zacos–Veglery, no. 24a.

Commentary

As there is no inscription, identification of this seal is based on comparison of style, iconographic details, and the imperial portrait of gold coins. It is most similar to the solidus issued by Justinian II in his first reign (for example, DOC 2.2:5c [pl. 37]; MIB 3: Prägetabelle 10, nos. 4–7). The quality of design and execution noted on his coins carries over into the careful workmanship that engravers expended on incising boulloteria.

The cross flanking the Mother of God at left is placed lower in the field than the one at right. On gold coins of earlier date Justinian is shown beardless. The cross at l. seems to be independent of the globus that the emperor holds.

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)
  • 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)

Parallel Seals