Andronikos II Palaiologos (1282-1328)
Obverse
Christ standing before a low backless throne (thokos), wearing a tunic and himation. He holds the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. Sigla at left and right: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.
Reverse
The emperor standing, 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. The manus Dei is faintly visible in the upper right field. Inscription in two columns. Border of dots.
Α Ο
ΝΔ ΠΑ
ΡΟΝΙ ΛΑΙ
ΚΟΣΔ ΟΛΟ
ΕΣΠ ΓΟΣ
Ο
Σ
Ἀνδρόνικος δεσπότης ὁ Παλαιολόγος.
Obverse
Christ standing before a low backless throne (thokos), wearing a tunic and himation. He holds the right hand in blessing and a book in the left. Sigla at left and right: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.
Reverse
The emperor standing, 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. The manus Dei is faintly visible in the upper right field. Inscription in two columns. Border of dots.
Α Ο
ΝΔ ΠΑ
ΡΟΝΙ ΛΑΙ
ΚΟΣΔ ΟΛΟ
ΕΣΠ ΓΟΣ
Ο
Σ
Ἀνδρόνικος δεσπότης ὁ Παλαιολόγος.
Accession number | BZS.1955.1.4360 (formerly DO 55.1.4360) |
---|---|
Diameter | 29.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 106.2. |
Translation
Ἀνδρόνικος δεσπότης ὁ Παλαιολόγος.
Andronikos Palaiologos, despotes.
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 of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, Vol. 5, Michael VIII to Constantine XI (1258–1453) (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
There are no close matches between Andronikos’s coins and his seals, but on Andronikos’s copper trachea the figure of the emperor is depicted in a manner that, despite variations, somewhat resembles his appearance on his seals. See, for example, DOC 5.2:586 (pl. 34), a coin on which Andronikos is shown standing, holding a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left; also DOC 5.2:583 (pl. 34). Here the emperor is shown standing and holding in the right hand a cross scepter and in the lefthand an akakia. In the upper right field appears the manus Dei.