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John (?) apo eparchon and general kommerkiarios of the apotheke of Aigaion Pelagos (711-713)

 
 

Obverse

Emperor Philippikos (711-713) standing frontally wearing a crown and loros, holding a globus cruciger and a long cross scepter. At the left, the indiction sign:  : νδικτιὼν .. Remains of a circular inscription beginning at 1 o'clock and continuing at 7 o'clock. No visible border.

Ι.......ΠΟΕΠΑΡΧ.

ωάννου ἀπὸ ἐπάρχων

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. No visible border.

Γ.Ν
ΚΟΜ.
ΚΙΑΡΙ.
ΠΟΘΗΚ
ΤΟΥΑΙΓ
ΠΕΛ
....

καὶ γενικοῦ κομμερκιαρίου ἀποθήκης τοῦ Αἰγαίου Πελάγους

Obverse

Emperor Philippikos (711-713) standing frontally wearing a crown and loros, holding a globus cruciger and a long cross scepter. At the left, the indiction sign:  : νδικτιὼν .. Remains of a circular inscription beginning at 1 o'clock and continuing at 7 o'clock. No visible border.

Ι.......ΠΟΕΠΑΡΧ.

ωάννου ἀπὸ ἐπάρχων

Reverse

Inscription of six lines. No visible border.

Γ.Ν
ΚΟΜ.
ΚΙΑΡΙ.
ΠΟΘΗΚ
ΤΟΥΑΙΓ
ΠΕΛ
....

καὶ γενικοῦ κομμερκιαρίου ἀποθήκης τοῦ Αἰγαίου Πελάγους

Accession number BZS.1958.106.667
Diameter 32.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 2, no. 40.22.

Translation

Ἰνδικτιὼν ..
Ἰωάννου ἀπὸ ἐπάρχων καὶ γενικοῦ κομμερκιαρίου ἀποθήκης τοῦ Αἰγαίου Πελάγους.

Indiction ..
(Seal of) John apo eparchon and general kommerkiarios of the apotheke of Aigaion Pelagos.

Commentary

The present specimen is overstruck. The relationship of the understrike to the overstrike is approximately 190 degrees. Above the emperor's head on the obverse, the letters ΟΥΣ (πελάγους?) can be seen. On the reverse, along the left side, the letters Μ|Ο|Κ are visible. The specimen is not listed in J. Nesbitt, "Overstruck Seals in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection," SBS 2 (1990) 167-93.

Zacos-Veglery and Oikonomides identified the emperor displayed on this specimen as Philippikos. On gold coins and seals (Grierson, Catalogue II/2, pl. XLV; and Zacos-Veglery, no. 30), he is shown wearing the same hairstyle as here and likewise holds a globus cruciger in his right hand and a long scepter, surmounted by an eagle, over his left shoulder. The attribution of this specimen to Philippikos is further supported by the letter Ι at the top of the obverse, indicating the name of the official as Ioannes (John). Zacos-Veglery suggested that this must be John apo eparchon who was active at precisely this time and until the year 713/14. Seals of John apo eparchon are listed in Zacos-Veglery I, 157, table 12. Cf. also DO Seals 2, no. 40.23 (BZS 1958.106.659).

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 2: South of the Balkans, the Islands, South of Asia Minor (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
  • A Collection of Dated Byzantine Lead Seals (Open in Zotero)
  • Overstruck Seals in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection (Open in Zotero)
  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, Vol. 2, Phocas to Theodosius III (602–717) (Open in Zotero)