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Sergios apo hypaton (?) (sixth/seventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Greek block monogram. Wreath border.

α - ι - ν - ο - π - ρ -  - τ - υ - ω

Σεργίου ἀπὸ ὑπάτων (?)

Reverse

Greco-Latin inscription. Wreath border.

.

OO

dulου ths Teotocου

Obverse

Greek block monogram. Wreath border.

α - ι - ν - ο - π - ρ -  - τ - υ - ω

Σεργίου ἀπὸ ὑπάτων (?)

Reverse

Greco-Latin inscription. Wreath border.

.

OO

dulου ths Teotocου

Accession number BZS.1947.2.1746
Diameter 24.0 mm

Translation

Σεργίου ἀπὸ ὑπάτων (?) dulου ths Teotocου.

(Seal of) Sergios apo hypaton (?), servant of the Theotokos.

Commentary

The reading of the Greek obverse block monogram is uncertain; in his unpublished catalogue of the Shaw collection, Laurent gives the possible solution of Ἰωάννου πραιποσίτου (John praipositos), which is eminently likely. Sergios apo hypaton has been chosen here because of how widespread the title is in this period. Doubtless, other possibilities exist as well.

The reverse of this seal is also of note. While it is not exactly a bilingual seal, the reverse inscription is written in Greek in Latin characters.