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Narses (?) archbishop (eighth century)

 
 

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type VIII); in the quarters: ΤΣ|ΔΛ. Thin wreath border.

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription in four lines. Thin wreath border.

ναρ
..αρχ
.επισκ
οπ

Νάρσου (?) ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type VIII); in the quarters: ΤΣ|ΔΛ. Thin wreath border.

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription in four lines. Thin wreath border.

ναρ
..αρχ
.επισκ
οπ

Νάρσου (?) ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ

Accession number BZS.1958.106.283
Diameter 24.0 mm; field: 21.0 mm

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Νάρσου (?) ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ.

Lord, help your servant, the archbishop Narses (?).

Commentary

The reading of the seal owner's name is uncertain; the ΝΑ is clear, and there seems to be the remains of a cross before it, rendering this the beginning of the word. The letter after the alpha seems to be a Γ, Ρ, or Σ; with the beginning read as such, Narses is the most likely reading, although if there is a letter before the ΝΑ, then Anastasios becomes the most likely reading.