Skip to Content

Andronikos III Palaiologos (1328-41)

 
 

Obverse

Christ standing on a suppedion before a low thokos, wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger. Sigla at left and right: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

                      Ο
  Ν                     Π
ΔΡˊΟ                 
ΝΙΚΟΣ             ΛΙ     
  ΔΕΣ              ΟΛΟ   
   ΠΌ              ΓΟΣ
    Σ             

Reverse

The emperor Andronikos standing on a suppedion, wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and an akakia in the left. Manus Dei in the upper right field. Inscription in two columns. Border of dots.

Ἀνδρόνικος δεσπότης [ὁ] Παλαιολόγος.

Obverse

Christ standing on a suppedion before a low thokos, wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger. Sigla at left and right: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

                      Ο
  Ν                     Π
ΔΡˊΟ                 
ΝΙΚΟΣ             ΛΙ     
  ΔΕΣ              ΟΛΟ   
   ΠΌ              ΓΟΣ
    Σ             

Reverse

The emperor Andronikos standing on a suppedion, wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and an akakia in the left. Manus Dei in the upper right field. Inscription in two columns. Border of dots.

Ἀνδρόνικος δεσπότης [ὁ] Παλαιολόγος.

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1702
Diameter 43.0 mm; field: 39.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 108.1; Zacos-Veglery, no. 126 bis.

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

Translation

Ἀνδρόνικος δεσπότης ὁ Παλαιολόγος.

Andronikos Palaiologos, despotes.

Commentary

The overall design of this seal is similar to that of the seal of Andronikos II. As on BZS.1951.31.5.1703, Andronikos III stands to the front, holding a labarum in the right hand and an akakia in the left. The manus Dei appears in the upper right field. However, on this seal the emperor’s crown is relatively higher, and in contrast with the drapery falling over Andronikos II’s wrist the material here is decorated with well-articulated pellets. On the reverse appear accent marks.

A comparison of silver issues of Andronikos II with those of Andronikos III reveals a difference in crown types. For example, on DOC 5.2:504 (pl. 31), the emperor Andronikos II is shown wearing a crown that is relatively flat in comparison with the higher crown that Andronikos III is wearing on DOC 5.2:861 (pl. 48). Of course the overall design of the coin differs considerably from Andronikos III’s seal. On the obverse of the coin we find Christ enthroned. The reverse shows the emperor standing at left wearing a loros. He is paired with St. Demetrios, who stands at right and wears a tunic and a himation.

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)