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David Komnenos (thirteenth century, first half)

 
 

Obverse

The king and prophet David seated on a throne. Inscription partially preserved at right: ΟΠΡ|ΟΦΗ : [Δα(βὶ)δ βασιλεὺς] ὁ προφή[τ(ης)]. Indeterminate border.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines, consisting of two dodecasyllabic verses, with traces of a cross above. Border of dots.

.ΔΣ
ΑΣΦΑΛΕ
ΦΝΚ
Υ
ΔΔΚΟΜΝ
ΑΣΙΛΕ
ΝΟΥΓΙ

[Δ]α(βὶ)δ βασ[ιλεῦ] ἀσφαλέ[ς γρα]φῶν κύ[ρος] Δα(βὶ)δ Κομν[ηνοῦ] βασιλ[εγγ]ὀνου γί[νου] 

Obverse

The king and prophet David seated on a throne. Inscription partially preserved at right: ΟΠΡ|ΟΦΗ : [Δα(βὶ)δ βασιλεὺς] ὁ προφή[τ(ης)]. Indeterminate border.

Reverse

Inscription of six lines, consisting of two dodecasyllabic verses, with traces of a cross above. Border of dots.

.ΔΣ
ΑΣΦΑΛΕ
ΦΝΚ
Υ
ΔΔΚΟΜΝ
ΑΣΙΛΕ
ΝΟΥΓΙ

[Δ]α(βὶ)δ βασ[ιλεῦ] ἀσφαλέ[ς γρα]φῶν κύ[ρος] Δα(βὶ)δ Κομν[ηνοῦ] βασιλ[εγγ]ὀνου γί[νου] 

Accession number BZS.1958.106.5585
Diameter 48.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 598a (with parallels listed).

Translation

Δαβὶδ βασιλεῦ ἀσφαλὲς γραφῶν κῦρος Δαβὶδ Κομνηνοῦ βασιλεγγὀνου γίνου.

King David, be the secure guardian of the correspondence of David Komnenos, descendant of the emperors.

Commentary

The inscription consists of two dodecasyllabic verses. It must be dated to the early thirteenth century (before 1214) and assigned to David Komnenos, the younger brother of Alexios I of Trebizond (1204-1222).