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Michael VII Doukas (1071–1078)

 
 

Obverse

Christ seated on a square-backed throne. The upper part of the throne is decorated at left and right with six pellets. He is shown wearing a tunic and himation and blessing with the right hand and holding a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm is decorated with one pellet. Sigla at left and right: ΙΣ̅ΧΣ̅ : (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

Michael VII standing on a round dais and wearing a crown with a cross and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΜΙΧΑΗΑΥΟΤΚΟΑΤ,Ρ,ΩΝΕΟΔΚ,

Μιχαὴ(λ) αὐτοκοάτ(ωρῬωνέ(ων Δούκ(ας)

Obverse

Christ seated on a square-backed throne. The upper part of the throne is decorated at left and right with six pellets. He is shown wearing a tunic and himation and blessing with the right hand and holding a book in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm is decorated with one pellet. Sigla at left and right: ΙΣ̅ΧΣ̅ : (ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς. Border of dots.

Reverse

Michael VII standing on a round dais and wearing a crown with a cross and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription. Border of dots.

ΜΙΧΑΗΑΥΟΤΚΟΑΤ,Ρ,ΩΝΕΟΔΚ,

Μιχαὴ(λ) αὐτοκοάτ(ωρῬωνέ(ων Δούκ(ας)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1673
Diameter 33.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 84.11.

Translation

Μιχαὴλ αὐτοκοάτωρ Ῥωνέων  Δούκας.

Michael Doukas, emperor of the Romans.

Commentary

The circular inscription on the reverse contains a number of mistakes. In the first part the letter O is placed before the letter T; in the second part the letter O is substituted for the letter P, the letter P is followed by an unnecessary mark of suspension, the letter M appears as N and the letter E appears in place of the letters AI.

The legs of Christ’s throne are ornamented at left and right with five pellets. On BZS.1951.31.5.1674, BZS.1951.31.5.1676, BZS.1955.1.4334, and BZS.1958.106.596 we find four pellets. On BZS.1955.1.4335 and BZS.1951.31.5.1675 we encounter three pellets. Again we can determine that the emperor’s labarum is decorated in the middle with a device consisting of five pellets.

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)