Leo patrikios, praipositos, vestarches and epi tou vestiariou (tenth century)
Obverse
Half-length of St Theodore holding a spear across his body with his right hand. Sigla on either side: |Θ|ΕΟ||Ο|Ρ, : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Θεόδορ(ος). Along the circumference, within a border of dots, a circular inscription beginning at eight o'clock:
..̣ΟΗΘΕΙΤΣΛ
[Κ(ύρι)ε] βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines beginning with a cross. A decoration above and below. Border of dots.
ΛΕΝ,
ΠΤΡΙΚ,ΠΡΕ
ΠΟΣΙΤΟΕΣ
Τ̣̣Ρ̣ΧΗ·ΕΠΙ.
..ΕΣ.....
.ΛΟΧΡ̣...
ΕΣΠ..
Λέων(τι) πατρικ(ίῳ), πρεποσίτο, βεστάρχῃ (καὶ) ἐπὶ [τοῦ] βεσ[τ(ιάριου) τῶν φι]λοχρ[ίστ(ων)] δεσπ[οτ(ῶν)]
Obverse
Half-length of St Theodore holding a spear across his body with his right hand. Sigla on either side: |Θ|ΕΟ||Ο|Ρ, : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Θεόδορ(ος). Along the circumference, within a border of dots, a circular inscription beginning at eight o'clock:
..̣ΟΗΘΕΙΤΣΛ
[Κ(ύρι)ε] βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of seven lines beginning with a cross. A decoration above and below. Border of dots.
ΛΕΝ,
ΠΤΡΙΚ,ΠΡΕ
ΠΟΣΙΤΟΕΣ
Τ̣̣Ρ̣ΧΗ·ΕΠΙ.
..ΕΣ.....
.ΛΟΧΡ̣...
ΕΣΠ..
Λέων(τι) πατρικ(ίῳ), πρεποσίτο, βεστάρχῃ (καὶ) ἐπὶ [τοῦ] βεσ[τ(ιάριου) τῶν φι]λοχρ[ίστ(ων)] δεσπ[οτ(ῶν)]
| Accession number | BZS.1951.31.5.601 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 30.0 mm; field: 23.0 mm |
| Credit Line | Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Λέωντι πατρικίῳ, πρεποσίτο, βεστάρχῃ καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ βεστιάριου τῶν φιλοχρίστων δεσποτῶν.
Lord, help your servant Leo patrikios, praipositos, vestarches and epi tou vestiariou of the Christ-loving emperors.
Commentary
In the fourth line of the inscription on the reverse, note the inversion of and Ε which we have tacitly corrected in the transcription.