Constantine VII (27 January–6 April 945)
Obverse
Half-length representation of Christ bearded, wearing a chiton and himation. He raises his right hand in blessing and holds a book in his left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each limb of the cross is decorated with a row of three dots. At left and right, the sigla IC-XC: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. No visible border.
Reverse
Half-length representation of Constantine VII, wearing a crown with a jeweled band and double pendilia and a loros. Remains of a circular inscription at right. Border of dots.
......AVORA
[Consta]n(tinos) autocrat(or).
Obverse
Half-length representation of Christ bearded, wearing a chiton and himation. He raises his right hand in blessing and holds a book in his left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each limb of the cross is decorated with a row of three dots. At left and right, the sigla IC-XC: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. No visible border.
Reverse
Half-length representation of Constantine VII, wearing a crown with a jeweled band and double pendilia and a loros. Remains of a circular inscription at right. Border of dots.
......AVORA
[Consta]n(tinos) autocrat(or).
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.4300 (formerly DO 55.1.4300) |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 30.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 63.3; Zacos–Veglery, no. 70d. |
Translation
Constantinos autocrator.
Constantine, autokrator.
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 des monnaies byzantines de la Bibliothèque nationale (Open in Zotero)
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.
With Constantine VII, Christ now begins to appear on seals with a nimbus cruciger.
This is the first instance on imperial seals in which Christ is identified by the sigla IC-XC.