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Romanos IV, Eudokia, Michael VII, Constantios, and Andronikos (1068–71)

 
 

Obverse

Three full-length figures: in the center, Christ bearded wearing a tunic and himation and standing on a dais. He has a nimbus cruciger. With uplifted arms he places a cross-topped crown on the bearded head of the emperor Romanos on the left an a crown with three triangular projections on the head of Eudokia on the right. Romanos wears a loros and holds his right hand before his chest and a globus cruciger in his left hand. Eudokia wears a loros and holds her left hand before her chest and a globus cruciger in her right hand. At left and right of Christ's head, sigla: IC-XC: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΡΩΜΑΝΕΥΔΟΚΙΑ

Ῥωμαν(ὸς) (καὶ) Εὐδοκία

Reverse

Three full-length figures, all of whom stand on daises. In center, Michael VII, taller than his brothers, standing, wearing a crown with a cross and a loros, and holding a labarum in his right hand and an akakia in his left. He is flanked by the shorter, beardless figures of Constantios on the left and Andronikos on the right. Each wears a crown with a cross and a loros. Constantios holds a globus surmounted by a trefoil ornament in his right hand and an akakia in his left. Andronikos holds an akakia in his right hand an a globus surmounted by a trefoil ornament in his left. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

κωνμχ...

Κων(στάντιος). Μ(ι)χ(αήλ). ['Ανδ(ρόνικος).]

Obverse

Three full-length figures: in the center, Christ bearded wearing a tunic and himation and standing on a dais. He has a nimbus cruciger. With uplifted arms he places a cross-topped crown on the bearded head of the emperor Romanos on the left an a crown with three triangular projections on the head of Eudokia on the right. Romanos wears a loros and holds his right hand before his chest and a globus cruciger in his left hand. Eudokia wears a loros and holds her left hand before her chest and a globus cruciger in her right hand. At left and right of Christ's head, sigla: IC-XC: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΡΩΜΑΝΕΥΔΟΚΙΑ

Ῥωμαν(ὸς) (καὶ) Εὐδοκία

Reverse

Three full-length figures, all of whom stand on daises. In center, Michael VII, taller than his brothers, standing, wearing a crown with a cross and a loros, and holding a labarum in his right hand and an akakia in his left. He is flanked by the shorter, beardless figures of Constantios on the left and Andronikos on the right. Each wears a crown with a cross and a loros. Constantios holds a globus surmounted by a trefoil ornament in his right hand and an akakia in his left. Andronikos holds an akakia in his right hand an a globus surmounted by a trefoil ornament in his left. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

κωνμχ...

Κων(στάντιος). Μ(ι)χ(αήλ). ['Ανδ(ρόνικος).]

Accession number BZS.1958.106.600 (formerly DO 58.106.600)
Diameter 30.0 mm; field: 26.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 82.3; Zacos-Veglery, no. 93a.

Translation

Ῥωμανὸς καὶ Εὐδοκία.
Κωνστάντιος. Μιχαήλ. 'Ανδρόνικος.

Romanos and Eudokia.
Constantios. Michael. Andronikos.

Commentary

On coins, Michael VII and his brothers appear on the obverse, convex side, while Christ, Romanos, and Eudokia are portrayed on the reverse, concave side. On the seals, lacking any indicator of which side is which, it is conventional to reverse the order, placing the figure of Christ on the obverse.

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)