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Manuel I Komnenos (1143–1180)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of a beardless Christ wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a scroll in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of one pellet. Sigla at left and right: [Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς] Χ(ριστό)ς. Inscription in two columns: [ὁ Ἐ]μ[μ]ανουήλ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Manuel standing, wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and an akakia in the left. Traces of a circular inscription at right.

Obverse

Bust of a beardless Christ wearing a tunic and himation and holding the right hand in blessing and a scroll in the left. He has a nimbus cruciger; each arm contains a decoration consisting of one pellet. Sigla at left and right: [Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς] Χ(ριστό)ς. Inscription in two columns: [ὁ Ἐ]μ[μ]ανουήλ. Border of dots.

Reverse

Manuel standing, wearing a crown and a loros, an end of which is draped over the left wrist. He holds a labarum in the right hand and an akakia in the left. Traces of a circular inscription at right.

Accession number BZS.1955.1.4352 (formerly DO 55.1.4352)
Diameter 26.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 93.11.

Commentary

The upsilon in the ligature of omicron and upsilon displays the later V shape. Note also the unusually small diameter of the dies.

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)