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Constantine VII (945–59)

 
 

Obverse

Half-length representation of Christ, bearded, wearing a tunic and himation, and holding a book in his left hand. He has a nimbus cruciger, each limb of which is decorated with a row of three dots above and below a solid line. Remains of a circular inscription at right. Border of dots.

.........SS

[Iηsus Xri]stus.

Reverse

Half-length representation of Constantine VII, wearing a crown with a jeweled band and cross and a loros, and holding in his right hand a globus cruciger surmounted by a possibly patriarchal cross. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

COSAI . . .

Constanti[n(os) autocrat(or) basil(eus) R(o)m(aion)].

Obverse

Half-length representation of Christ, bearded, wearing a tunic and himation, and holding a book in his left hand. He has a nimbus cruciger, each limb of which is decorated with a row of three dots above and below a solid line. Remains of a circular inscription at right. Border of dots.

.........SS

[Iηsus Xri]stus.

Reverse

Half-length representation of Constantine VII, wearing a crown with a jeweled band and cross and a loros, and holding in his right hand a globus cruciger surmounted by a possibly patriarchal cross. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

COSAI . . .

Constanti[n(os) autocrat(or) basil(eus) R(o)m(aion)].

Accession number BZS.1958.106.533 (formerly DO 58.106.533)
Diameter 33.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 64.1.

Translation

Iηsus Xristus
Constantinos autocrator basileus Romaion.

Jesus Christ.
Constantine, autokrator and basileus of the Romans.

Commentary

The emperor’s face seems to be much rounder than on the seals dating to early 945 (BZS.1958.106.574, BZS.1958.106.575, and BZS.1955.1.4300), and one does not see a long beard. Accordingly, this seal is assigned a general date.

Reading of the reverse inscription is based upon a close parallel of the the seal, a gold coin in BNC 2 (pl. 77/11). Morrisson dated it to 27 January–6 April 945, although the present specimen is given a date corresponding to Constantine's reign.

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)
  • Catalogue des monnaies byzantines de la Bibliothèque nationale (Open in Zotero)