Leo VI and Alexander (886–912)
Obverse
Half-length representation of Christ, lightly bearded, wearing a tunic and himation. He raises his right hand in blessing and holds in his left a book with a cover decorated with pellets. He has a cross behind his head. Circular inscription. No visible border.
ISSXRISOS
Iηsus Xristos.
Reverse
Two half-length figures: at left, Leo VI, bearded, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a loros; at right, Alexander, more diminutive than Leo, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a chlamys pinned with a fibula almost at front. They hold between them a labarum. Circular inscription. No visible border.
.EOSAL...A
[L]eon (καὶ) Al[exa]n(dros) aug(usti).
Obverse
Half-length representation of Christ, lightly bearded, wearing a tunic and himation. He raises his right hand in blessing and holds in his left a book with a cover decorated with pellets. He has a cross behind his head. Circular inscription. No visible border.
ISSXRISOS
Iηsus Xristos.
Reverse
Two half-length figures: at left, Leo VI, bearded, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a loros; at right, Alexander, more diminutive than Leo, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a chlamys pinned with a fibula almost at front. They hold between them a labarum. Circular inscription. No visible border.
.EOSAL...A
[L]eon (καὶ) Al[exa]n(dros) aug(usti).
Accession number | BZS.1955.1.4298 (formerly DO 55.1.4298) |
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Diameter | 26.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 53.2; Zacos–Veglery, no. 60b. For a similar seal, but from a different boulloterion, see Speck, Bleisiegel, no. 3. |
Translation
Iηsus Xristos.
Leon καὶ Alexandros augusti.
Jesus Christ.
Leo and Alexander, augusti.
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)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantinische Bleisiegel in Berlin (West) (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)
- Βυζαντιακὰ μολυβδόβουλλα τοῦ ἐν ἈΘήναις Ἐθνικοῦ Νομισματικοῦ Μουσείου (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Leo VI reigned from 29 August 886 until 11 May 912. Coins (for example, Grierson class 2 follis: DOC 3.2:6.2) depict emperor and his brother seated on a double throne, with Alexander as the smaller figure. They hold a labarum between them, decorated with an X, and Alexander holds an akakia in his left hand.
In Athens (Konstantopoulos, no. 278β), see also a specimen bearing a bust of Christ with an inscription reading IhSUSX-RISTUS, with NICA absent. See Konstantopoulos, no. 278β.