Eustathios imperial spatharokandidatos and tourmarches (of ...) (tenth century)
Obverse
Bust of St. Nicholas, holding a book in his right hand. Inscription to left and right: – ν|ι|κο|λ—Ὁ ἄ(γιος) Νικόλ(αος). Remains of inscription along border. Border of dots.
Κύριε or Θεοτόκε βοήθειτωσῷ δούλῳ
Κύριε or Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines.
+Ευστα
θιωrασιλικῷσπαθαρο
κανιάτῳsτ
ουρμαρχῃ
τ . . .
Εὐσταθίῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαροκανδιδάτῳ καὶ τουρμάρχῃ τ . . .
Obverse
Bust of St. Nicholas, holding a book in his right hand. Inscription to left and right: – ν|ι|κο|λ—Ὁ ἄ(γιος) Νικόλ(αος). Remains of inscription along border. Border of dots.
Κύριε or Θεοτόκε βοήθειτωσῷ δούλῳ
Κύριε or Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines.
+Ευστα
θιωrασιλικῷσπαθαρο
κανιάτῳsτ
ουρμαρχῃ
τ . . .
Εὐσταθίῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαροκανδιδάτῳ καὶ τουρμάρχῃ τ . . .
| Accession number | BZS.1947.2.284 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 1.0 mm |
Translation
Κύριε or Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Εὐσταθίῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαροκανδιδάτῳ καὶ τουρμάρχῃ τ . . .
Lord/Mother of God, help your servant Eustathios imperial spatharokandidatos and tourmarches (of . . .)
Commentary
The final line is cut off, but there is space for four or five letters. Given the date, it is more likely that this is a place name rather than a family name. The letter is likely a tau, for τ(οῦ), followed by the officer’s circumscription.