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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.

Reverse

Blank.

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.

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]).

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)