Eirene (797–802)
Obverse
Half-length representation of Eirene, wearing a crown with double pendilia surmounted by a cross and triangular projections, and a loros. She holds a cross scepter in her left hand. Circular inscription at right. Border of dots.
......ASILISSHΘ
[Eirinῃ] basilissῃ Θ.
Obverse
Half-length representation of Eirene, wearing a crown with double pendilia surmounted by a cross and triangular projections, and a loros. She holds a cross scepter in her left hand. Circular inscription at right. Border of dots.
......ASILISSHΘ
[Eirinῃ] basilissῃ Θ.
Reverse
Blank.
Accession number | BZS.1958.106.634 (formerly DO 58.106.634) |
---|---|
Diameter | 28.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 36.4; Zacos–Veglery, no. 40b. |
Translation
Eirinῃ basilissῃ.
Eirene, basilissa.
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. 3, Leo III to Nicephorus III (717–1081) (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
On her gold coins, the empress Eirene is represented wearing a loros and a crown surmounted by a cross, which is framed by two triangular projections (for example, DOC 3.1:1a.1 [pl. 15]). This seal depicts crown type L (on the types, see DOC 3.1: pp. 128 and 130).
The inscription here is the same as that on the reverse of Eirene's gold coin (DOC 3.1:1a.1 [pl. 15]).