Herakleios and Herakleios Constantine (ca. 616–ca. 625)
Obverse
The Mother of God standing, wearing a chiton and maphorion, and holding Christ before her. A small cross potent at shoulder level at left and right. Wreath border.
Reverse
Bust of Herakleios at left, and a smaller bust of Herakleios Constantine at right. Each wears a crown with a cross and a chlamys. Herakleios is shown with a beard of medium length and Herakleios Constantine is beardless. Herakleios’s hairstyle is unclear. A small cross in the field above. A circular inscription beginning at left. Wreath border.
NNEPACEEPACONS......
D(omini) n(ostri) Herac(lius) et Hera(clius) Cons[t(antinus) p(er)p(etui) aug(usti)].
Obverse
The Mother of God standing, wearing a chiton and maphorion, and holding Christ before her. A small cross potent at shoulder level at left and right. Wreath border.
Reverse
Bust of Herakleios at left, and a smaller bust of Herakleios Constantine at right. Each wears a crown with a cross and a chlamys. Herakleios is shown with a beard of medium length and Herakleios Constantine is beardless. Herakleios’s hairstyle is unclear. A small cross in the field above. A circular inscription beginning at left. Wreath border.
NNEPACEEPACONS......
D(omini) n(ostri) Herac(lius) et Hera(clius) Cons[t(antinus) p(er)p(etui) aug(usti)].
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.532 (formerly DO 58.106.532) |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 24.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 14.5. |
Translation
Domini nostri Heraclius et Heraclius Constantinus perpetui augusti.
Our lords Herakleios and Herakleios Constantine, eternal augusti.
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)
- Die byzantinischen Bleisiegel in Österreich, Vol. 1, Kaiserhof (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
On the seals dated ca. 616–ca. 625, Herakleios has a longer beard and Herakleios Constantine’s bust is now somewhat larger than on earlier specimens. Dating follows the numismatic evidence.
Seibt (Bleisiegel, 69) has employed the following criteria for classifying and dating seals, from ca. 616–ca. 625, with representations of Herakleios and Herakleios Constantine. (1) ca. 616–ca. 625: the imperial hair style changes, as the ends now curl outward; the Virgin’s right foot supports her weight. (2) ca. 620–25: Herakleios’s beard is longer and thicker.
On this specimen it is possible to discern that the cross is attached to a circlet. The cross flanking the Mother of God at right is set higher than the one at left.