Christopher imperial protospatharios and orphanotrophos (ninth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V). In the quarters: .̣Σ|ΔΛ̣. : [τ]ῷ σῷ δούλ[ῳ]. Indeterminate border.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει [τ]ῷ σῷ δούλ[ῳ]
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Indeterminate border.
ΧΡΙΣ
.ΟΦΡ.
..ΣΠΟ̣.
.ΑΝΟΤ.
Χρισ[τ]οφώρ[ῳ β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)]σπ(αθαρίῳ καὶ) ὀ[ρφ]ανοτ[ρ(όφῳ)]
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (type V). In the quarters: .̣Σ|ΔΛ̣. : [τ]ῷ σῷ δούλ[ῳ]. Indeterminate border.
Θεοτόκε βοήθει [τ]ῷ σῷ δούλ[ῳ]
Reverse
Inscription of four lines. Indeterminate border.
ΧΡΙΣ
.ΟΦΡ.
..ΣΠΟ̣.
.ΑΝΟΤ.
Χρισ[τ]οφώρ[ῳ β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)]σπ(αθαρίῳ καὶ) ὀ[ρφ]ανοτ[ρ(όφῳ)]
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.744 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0 mm |
Translation
Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Χριστοφώρῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ ὀρφανοτρόφῳ.
Τheotokos, help your servant Christopher imperial protospatharios and orphanotrophos.
Commentary
See John W. Nesbitt, "The Orphanotrophos: Some observations on the history of the office in light of seals," SBS 8 (2003), 54-55.