Constantine VII and Zoe (918/19)
Obverse
Half-length representation of Constantine VII, beardless, wearing a crown surmounted by a trefoil ornament and a loros. Circular inscription. Border of dots.
ΚΩSATINOCAVΓˊ
Κωνstanτῖνος αὔγ(ουστος).
Obverse
Half-length representation of Constantine VII, beardless, wearing a crown surmounted by a trefoil ornament and a loros. Circular inscription. Border of dots.
ΚΩSATINOCAVΓˊ
Κωνstanτῖνος αὔγ(ουστος).
Reverse
Half-length representation of Zoe, wearing a crown with pendilia surmounted by three triangular projections and a loros. Circular inscription. At left and right, an indictional date. Border of dots.
ΖΩΗΔ.ΣΠΥΝΗ
Δ
ΙΝ̄
Ζωῇ δ[ε]σπύνῃ.
Ἰνδ(ικτιὼν) ϛ´.
Accession number | BZS.1958.106.573 (formerly DO 58.106.573) |
---|---|
Diameter | 26.0 mm; field: 20.0 mm |
Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 57.1; Zacos–Veglery, no. 63; Oikonomides, Dated Lead Seals,no. 58. |
Translation
Κωνstanτῖνος αὔγ(ουστος).
Ζωῇ δ[ε]σπύνῃ.
Ἰνδ(ικτιὼν) ϛ´.
Constantine, augustus.
Zoe, despoina.
Indiction 6
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 6, Emperors, Patriarchs of Constantinople, Addenda (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- A Collection of Dated Byzantine Lead Seals (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
As Oikonomides observes, the purpose of this specimen is unclear. It is not a tessera; the specimen has a channel. Zacos and Veglery read the inscription on the reverse as Ζωὴ δέσπ(οι)να. This correction is reasonable, but, seeing that (as Oikonomides notes) the specimen is not of a standard type, an emendation is not required. Still the dative is probably a mistake. It is possible that the die carver had no idea of the correct spelling of the nominative feminine form of δέσποινα; the transcription here follows and retains the dative case.