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Constantine IV (681–685)

 
 

Obverse

Half-length representation of Constantine IV, head turned slightly to the right. He wears a cuirass and chlamys. He wears his hair long at the sides and curled. He holds in his right hand a spear behind his head, and a shield decorated with a highly stylized depiction of a horseman rests on his left shoulder. No epigraphy. Wreath border.

Reverse

Large cross potent. No epigraphy. Wreath border

Obverse

Half-length representation of Constantine IV, head turned slightly to the right. He wears a cuirass and chlamys. He wears his hair long at the sides and curled. He holds in his right hand a spear behind his head, and a shield decorated with a highly stylized depiction of a horseman rests on his left shoulder. No epigraphy. Wreath border.

Reverse

Large cross potent. No epigraphy. Wreath border

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1640
Diameter 30.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 23.6; for a similar specimen, see Seibt–Zarnitz, no. 1.1.3.

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Commentary

Grierson has argued that Constantine deposed his brothers Herakleios and Tiberios, at least for the final time, in 681. Prior to that date he issued gold coins decorated on the obverse with a bearded bust of Constantine and on the obverse with a cross-on-steps flanked by Herakleios at left and Tiberios at right.  Subsequently, the reverse depicted on the cross-on-steps. Since no corulers appear, this entry follows Zacos and Veglery in assigned this seal to the period of 681–85 (DOC 2.2:15d [class 4]; MIB 3: Prägetabelle 8, no. 10).

Both Constantine’s coins and seals set aside an austere depiction in favor of a heroic type, one that has its roots in imperial depictions of the fifth and sixth centuries. Its last appearance was during the early years of the reign of Justinian I. Morrisson has suggested that the type may have been revived due to ideological reasons that influenced Constantine’s decision to bestow on a son born in 669 the name Justinian (BNC 1: p. 374).

Constantine’s seals are remarkable for the replacement of the Virgin with a cross potent. As Seibt observes, the cross, which symbolizes Christ’s triumph over death, may serve as a victory motif (Seibt–Zarnitz, 32, and Koltsida-Makri, “Representation of the Cross,” 45–46).

On this specimen, the crown is outside the field. It is unclear if the die carver included ribbons. The specimen illustrated in Seibt–Zarnitz is a particularly well-struck example of Constantine IV’s seal. No ribbons are present. See also the specimen published by Zacos–Veglery, no. 22b and BZS.1951.31.5.1653.

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)
  • Das byzantinische Bleisiegel als Kunstwerk: Katalog zur Ausstellung (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)
  • Catalogue des monnaies byzantines de la Bibliothèque nationale (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)