Skip to Content

Constantine VII (27 April–6 April 945)

 
 

Obverse

Half-length representation of Christ, lightly bearded, wearing a tunic and himation. He raises his right hand in blessing and holds a book in his left. He has a nimbus cruciger, each limb of which is decorated with a row of two dots. Indeterminate inscription. Indeterminate border.

Reverse

Half-length representation of Constantine VII, with an oblong face and a long, flowing beard, wearing a crown with simple pendilia, a jeweled band, and a cross. He wears a loros and holds a globus cruciger, surmounted with a patriarchal cross, in his right hand. Remains of a circular inscription.

[Con]st[ant(inos) aut(ocrator) bail(eus) R(omaion?)]

Obverse

Half-length representation of Christ, lightly bearded, wearing a tunic and himation. He raises his right hand in blessing and holds a book in his left. He has a nimbus cruciger, each limb of which is decorated with a row of two dots. Indeterminate inscription. Indeterminate border.

Reverse

Half-length representation of Constantine VII, with an oblong face and a long, flowing beard, wearing a crown with simple pendilia, a jeweled band, and a cross. He wears a loros and holds a globus cruciger, surmounted with a patriarchal cross, in his right hand. Remains of a circular inscription.

[Con]st[ant(inos) aut(ocrator) bail(eus) R(omaion?)]

Accession number BZS.1948.17.4295 (formerly DO 48.17.4295)
Diameter 15.0 mm
Previous Editions

Grierson, "Byzantine Gold Bullae," no. 2; Zacos-Veglery, no. 69.

Translation

Constantinos autocrator basileus Romaion.

Constantine autokrator and basileus of the Romans.

Commentary

A close parallel with this seal is the image of the emperor appearing on the reverse of a gold coin in BNC 2 (pl. 77/11), which Morrisson has assigned to 27 January–6 April 945. The terminal dates are the deposition of Romanos I's sons and the association of Constantine's son, Romanos II, with him in rule.

With Constantine VII, Christ now begins to appear on seals with a nimbus cruciger.

The obverse inscription, illegible here, is presumably "Iηsus Xristus," based on comparison with the lead seals of the same emperor. The lead, however, provide two possibilities for the reverse: "Constantinos autocrator basileus Romaion" (BZS.1958.106.574 and BZS.1958.106.575) and "Constantinos autocrator" (BZS.1955.1.4300). The latter, however, uses sigla rather than a circular inscription on the obverse, so the present entry adopts the first reading.

Bibliography