Michael III (856–867)
Obverse
Bust of Christ, bearded, wearing a tunic and himation, blessing with his right hand and holding a book in his left. No visible border.
Obverse
Bust of Christ, bearded, wearing a tunic and himation, blessing with his right hand and holding a book in his left. No visible border.
Reverse
Bust of an emperor, wearing a crown and a loros. No legible epigraphy. No visible border.
Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.1713 |
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Diameter | 25.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 49.2. |
Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
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)
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, Vol. 3, Leo III to Nicephorus III (717–1081) (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The specimen has been assigned to the reign of Michael III because the imperial figure represented is wearing a loros. After the empress Theodora’s fall from power in 856 Michael appeared alone, wearing a loros, on the reverse of his gold coinage (DOC 3.1:3.1 [pl. 28]).