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Niketas Hagiochristophorites, (imperial?) notarios (eleventh century)

 
 

Obverse

Bust of St Christopher holding the martyr's cross before him. Inscription on either side: |χ|ρσ|τ| : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Χρ(ι)στ(ό)φ(ορος). Within concentric circles of dots, an unusual cruciform invocation consisting of Κ at the top; Θ at right; Ρ at the bottom;  at left: Κ(ύ)ρ(ιε) β(οή)θ(ει).

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

Τσ̣,
νικητ.
νοτρ,τ.
γιχρ̅
φοριτ,

τῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ) Νικήτ(ᾳ) [β(ασιλικῷ)] νοταρ(ίῳ) τῷ Ἁγιωχρ(ιστο)φορίτ(ῃ)

Obverse

Bust of St Christopher holding the martyr's cross before him. Inscription on either side: |χ|ρσ|τ| : ὁ ἅ(γιος) Χρ(ι)στ(ό)φ(ορος). Within concentric circles of dots, an unusual cruciform invocation consisting of Κ at the top; Θ at right; Ρ at the bottom;  at left: Κ(ύ)ρ(ιε) β(οή)θ(ει).

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. Border of dots.

Τσ̣,
νικητ.
νοτρ,τ.
γιχρ̅
φοριτ,

τῷ σῷ δ(ούλῳ) Νικήτ(ᾳ) [β(ασιλικῷ)] νοταρ(ίῳ) τῷ Ἁγιωχρ(ιστο)φορίτ(ῃ)

Accession number BZS.1958.106.457
Diameter 23.0 mm; field: 21.0 mm
Condition Partially corroded. Blank too small for die.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Νικήτᾳ βασιλικῷ νοταρίῳ τῷ Ἁγιωχριστοφορίτῃ.

Lord, help your servant Niketas Hagiochristophorites, imperial notarios.

Commentary

The lack of a preserved letter at the end of the second line of the reverse makes it impossible to know for certain if the owner's office was imperial notarios. We suspect that the abbreviation formed the last letter of this line.