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Constantine VII and Zoe (918/19)

 
 

Obverse

Half-length representation of Constantine VII, beardless, wearing a crown surmounted by a trefoil ornament and a loros. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΚΩSATINOCAVΓˊ

Κωνstanτῖνος αὔγ(ουστος).

Reverse

Half-length representation of Zoe, wearing a crown with pendilia surmounted by three triangular projections and a loros. Circular inscription. At left and right, an indictional date. Border of dots.

ΖΩΗΔ.ΣΠΥΝΗ
Δ
ΙΝ̄

Ζωῇ δ[ε]σπύνῃ.
Ἰνδ(ικτιὼν) ϛ´.

Obverse

Half-length representation of Constantine VII, beardless, wearing a crown surmounted by a trefoil ornament and a loros. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΚΩSATINOCAVΓˊ

Κωνstanτῖνος αὔγ(ουστος).

Reverse

Half-length representation of Zoe, wearing a crown with pendilia surmounted by three triangular projections and a loros. Circular inscription. At left and right, an indictional date. Border of dots.

ΖΩΗΔ.ΣΠΥΝΗ
Δ
ΙΝ̄

Ζωῇ δ[ε]σπύνῃ.
Ἰνδ(ικτιὼν) ϛ´.

Accession number BZS.1958.106.573 (formerly DO 58.106.573)
Diameter 26.0 mm; field: 20.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 57.1; Zacos–Veglery, no. 63; Oikonomides, Dated Lead Seals,no. 58.

Translation

Κωνstanτῖνος αὔγ(ουστος).
Ζωῇ δ[ε]σπύνῃ.
Ἰνδ(ικτιὼν) ϛ´.

Constantine, augustus.
Zoe, despoina.
Indiction 6

Commentary

As Oikonomides observes, the purpose of this specimen is unclear. It is not a tessera; the specimen has a channel. Zacos and Veglery read the inscription on the reverse as Ζωὴ δέσπ(οι)να. This correction is reasonable, but, seeing that (as Oikonomides notes) the specimen is not of a standard type, an emendation is not required. Still the dative is probably a mistake. It is possible that the die carver had no idea of the correct spelling of the nominative feminine form of δέσποινα; the transcription here follows and retains the dative case.

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)
  • A Collection of Dated Byzantine Lead Seals (Open in Zotero)