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Constans II (647–51)

 
 

Obverse

The Mother of God standing, wearing a chiton and maphorion, and holding Christ, who is framed within an oval mandorla, before her. Her left leg is bent at the knee. A cross potent at left and right. No visible border.

Reverse

Constans II standing, with a short beard and long hair at the sides curling outward. He wears a crown with a cross and a chlamys, and holds a globus cruciger in his right hand. His left leg is bent at the knee. A circular inscription beginning at left. No visible border.

NCONSANINSPPAV

D(ominus) n(oster) Constantinus p(er)p(etuus) aug(ustus).

Obverse

The Mother of God standing, wearing a chiton and maphorion, and holding Christ, who is framed within an oval mandorla, before her. Her left leg is bent at the knee. A cross potent at left and right. No visible border.

Reverse

Constans II standing, with a short beard and long hair at the sides curling outward. He wears a crown with a cross and a chlamys, and holds a globus cruciger in his right hand. His left leg is bent at the knee. A circular inscription beginning at left. No visible border.

NCONSANINSPPAV

D(ominus) n(oster) Constantinus p(er)p(etuus) aug(ustus).

Accession number BZS.1958.106.550 (formerly DO 58.106.550)
Diameter 25.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 19.2; Zacos–Veglery, no. 15a.

Translation

Dominus noster Constantinus perpetuus augustus.

Our lord Constans, eternal augustus.

Commentary

On gold coins struck between 647 and 651 the emperor Constans II is represented with a short beard (for example, DOC 2.2:15c [pl. 24]; MIB 3: Prägetabelle 5, nos. 9–22).

The identifying inscription has the same spacing as on a seal published by Laurent in Vatican, no. 6. It is interesting to note that Laurent thought that the Virgin is seated, an optical illusion found on numerous seals of Herakleios and Constans II.

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)
  • Les sceaux byzantins du Médaillier Vatican (Open in Zotero)