George oikonomos (seventh/eighth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram. Wreath border.
Χρίστε βοήθει
Reverse
Inscription in three lines. Wreath border.
ΓΕΟ
ΡΓΗΟ
ΥΚ/
Γεοργήο ὐκονόμῳ
Accession number | BZS.1955.1.499 |
---|---|
Diameter | 23.0 mm; field: 15.0 mm |
Translation
Χρίστε βοήθει Γεωργίῳ οἰκονόμῳ.
Christ, help George, oikonomos.
Commentary
The spelling within the reverse inscription is phonetic, leading to some difficulty in its decipherment. If we are dealing with a title, the ὐκ (=οἰκ), followed by an abbreviation sign likely points to οἰκόνομος. Other titles beginning with οἰκ, such as οἰκιστικὸς and οἰκεῖος are only attested a century later in the Kletorologion of Philotheos. On the other hand, this may simply be an invocation asking Christ to help his servant (οἰκέτης).