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Basil II and Constantine VIII (976-1025)

 
 

Obverse

Half-length representation of Christ bearded, wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of five pellets. Sigla at left and right: (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Circular inscription: Ἐμμαν[ο]υήλ. Border of dots.

ΕΜΜΑΝ.ΥΗΛ

Reverse

Two figures: at left, a half-length representation of Basil II bearded, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross with pendilia and dressed in a loros; and at right, a representation of Constantine VIII. He is shown half-length wearing a crown with a cross and pendilia and a chlamys pinned together with a fibula on the right shoulder. The emperors hold between them a long patriarchal cross. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

A....COSAIR

Ba[sil(ios) c(e)] Constanti(nos) b(asilis) R(omaion).

Obverse

Half-length representation of Christ bearded, wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of five pellets. Sigla at left and right: (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Circular inscription: Ἐμμαν[ο]υήλ. Border of dots.

ΕΜΜΑΝ.ΥΗΛ

Reverse

Two figures: at left, a half-length representation of Basil II bearded, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross with pendilia and dressed in a loros; and at right, a representation of Constantine VIII. He is shown half-length wearing a crown with a cross and pendilia and a chlamys pinned together with a fibula on the right shoulder. The emperors hold between them a long patriarchal cross. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

A....COSAIR

Ba[sil(ios) c(e)] Constanti(nos) b(asilis) R(omaion).

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4307
Diameter 26.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 69.1; Zacos-Veglery no. 76a

Translation

Basilios ce Constantinos basilis Romaion.

Basil and Constantine, emperors of the Romans.

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)
  • Die byzantinischen Bleisiegel in Österreich, Vol. 1, Kaiserhof (Open in Zotero)
  • Das byzantinische Bleisiegel als Kunstwerk: Katalog zur Ausstellung (Open in Zotero)
  • Les sceaux byzantins de la Collection Henri Seyrig (Open in Zotero)