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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.

Reverse

Bust of an emperor, wearing a crown and a loros. No legible epigraphy. 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
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.

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]).

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)