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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

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).