John II Komnenos (1118–1143)
Obverse
A bearded Christ seated on a high-back throne, holding a book in the left hand. He has a nimbus cruciger. Sigla at left and right: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)[ς]. Border of dots.
Reverse
John II standing, wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds in the right hand (a labarum?) and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription, beginning at 7 o’clock, visible at left. Border of dots.
ΙΩΔ..ΠΟΤΤΩ
Ἰω(άννῃ) δ[εσ]πότ(ῃ) τῷ [πορφυρογεννήτῳ]?
Obverse
A bearded Christ seated on a high-back throne, holding a book in the left hand. He has a nimbus cruciger. Sigla at left and right: Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)[ς]. Border of dots.
Reverse
John II standing, wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds in the right hand (a labarum?) and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription, beginning at 7 o’clock, visible at left. Border of dots.
ΙΩΔ..ΠΟΤΤΩ
Ἰω(άννῃ) δ[εσ]πότ(ῃ) τῷ [πορφυρογεννήτῳ]?
Accession number | BZS.1958.106.485 (formerly DO 58.106.485) |
---|---|
Diameter | 33.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 91.2. |
Translation
Ἰωάννῃ δεσπότῃ τῷ πορφυρογεννήτῳ
John porphyogennetos, 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)
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, Vol. 4, Alexius I to Michael VIII (1081–1261) (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The use of the dative case is unusual as there is no invocation accompanying the inscription. For coins of John II with a similar dative inscription see DOC 4.1: no. 12a.