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Michael II and Theophilos (821–29)

 
 

Obverse

Cross potent on three steps. The beginning of a circular inscription visible at right. No visible border.

.OOA....................

[E]n onomat[i tu patr(os) (καὶ) tu y(io)u (καὶ) tu ag(iu) pne(umatos)].

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. No visible border.

.ixa.
lsθeof.
ospisv
.silisro
AIO

Miχa[η]l (καὶ) Θeof[il]os pisty [b]asilis Romaion.

Obverse

Cross potent on three steps. The beginning of a circular inscription visible at right. No visible border.

.OOA....................

[E]n onomat[i tu patr(os) (καὶ) tu y(io)u (καὶ) tu ag(iu) pne(umatos)].

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. No visible border.

.ixa.
lsθeof.
ospisv
.silisro
AIO

Miχa[η]l (καὶ) Θeof[il]os pisty [b]asilis Romaion.

Accession number BZS.1958.106.582 (formerly DO 58.106.582)
Diameter 27.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 6, no. 44.2.

Translation

En onomati tu patros καὶ tu yiou καὶ tu agiu pneumatos Miχaηl καὶ Θeofilos pisty basilis Romaion.

Michael and Theophilos, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, faithful basileis of the Romans.

Commentary

Michael II, who ruled from 25 December 820 until 2 October 829, took his son Theophilos as a colleague in May of 821.

Seibt (Bleisiegel, no. 17) has published a variant type that closely resembles the aniconic miliaresion issued by Michael and Theophilos (DOC 3.1:6.4), including the spelling “Θeofile” (see BZS.1958.106.583)

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)
  • Die byzantinischen Bleisiegel in Österreich, Vol. 1, Kaiserhof (Open in Zotero)
  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, Vol. 3, Leo III to Nicephorus III (717–1081) (Open in Zotero)