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John vestes and maistor of the chrysoepsiteion (eleventh century, second half)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St Nicholas holding the book and offering a blessing. Inscription on either side: |νι|κλ|αο|σ : ὁ ἅγιος Νικ(ό)λαος. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines, a cross above.


σφραγ
ειμιη̅
εμα
ιστορ,τ̣
ΕΨιτ

σφραγ(ίς) εἰμι Ἠω(άννου) βέστου (καὶ) μαΐστορ(ος) τοῦ χρ(υσο)εψιτ(είου)

Obverse

Bust of St Nicholas holding the book and offering a blessing. Inscription on either side: |νι|κλ|αο|σ : ὁ ἅγιος Νικ(ό)λαος. Border of dots.

Reverse

Inscription of five lines, a cross above.


σφραγ
ειμιη̅
εμα
ιστορ,τ̣
ΕΨιτ

σφραγ(ίς) εἰμι Ἠω(άννου) βέστου (καὶ) μαΐστορ(ος) τοῦ χρ(υσο)εψιτ(είου)

Accession number BZS.1958.106.1699
Diameter 20.0 mm

Translation

σφραγίς εἰμι Ἠωάννου βέστου καὶ μαΐστορος τοῦ χρυσοεψιτείου.

I am the seal of John, vestes and maistor of the chrysoepsiteion.

Commentary

The reading of the last word of the inscription is not certain. We have opted for the admittedly rare form chrysoepsiteion and see the owner as the "master" of the imperial atelier where gold bullion was worked, perhaps the equivalent of the chrysoepsetes whose functions are described by Oikonomides, Listes, 317.