John chrysepilektes (tenth/eleventh century)
Obverse
Bust of St John Prodromos holding his hands before him. Sigla on either side: |Ι̅,|Ο–|,Ρ̣|Ο: ὁ ἅ(γιος) Ἰω(άννης) ὁ Πρ(ό)δρο(μος). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Cross at beginning of first line. Fourth line between pellets. Indeterminate border.
ΚΕ̅,Θ,
ΤΣ,
Ι̅,ΕΠ,
ΛΕΚ,
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ) Ἰω(άννῃ) χρ(υσ)επ(ι)λέκ(τῃ)
Obverse
Bust of St John Prodromos holding his hands before him. Sigla on either side: |Ι̅,|Ο–|,Ρ̣|Ο: ὁ ἅ(γιος) Ἰω(άννης) ὁ Πρ(ό)δρο(μος). Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Cross at beginning of first line. Fourth line between pellets. Indeterminate border.
ΚΕ̅,Θ,
ΤΣ,
Ι̅,ΕΠ,
ΛΕΚ,
Κ(ύρι)ε β(οή)θ(ει) τῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ) Ἰω(άννῃ) χρ(υσ)επ(ι)λέκ(τῃ)
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.2399 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 20.0 mm |
| Condition | Chipped at top. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Ἰωάννῃ χρυσεπιλέκτῃ.
Lord help your servant John, chysepilektes.
Commentary
On the rarely attested office of chrysepilektes, taken variously to indicate an official charged with selecting or inspecting the gold used in coins, and in later sources a banker or moneychanger, see A. Gkoutzioukostas, "Παρατηρήσεις για τον χρυσ(ο)επιλέκτης," (Remarks on the chrysepilektes), in ΦΙΛΟΤΙΜΙΑ. Thessaloniki, 2011, 221-239.