George patrikios and Theophylaktos, general kommerkiarioi of the apotheke of the Hellespont (708/709)
Obverse
On the upper half, busts of two emperors (the one on the left is bearded) holding between them a cross potent mounted on a base of two steps. They are undoubtedly Justinian II (685-695, 705-711) and his son Tiberios (705-711). On either side is the indiction year: -ζ. On the lower half, there is an inscription of four lines. Wreath border.
γργιουπ
ατρικιου
Sθοφυλ
ακτου
Γεωργίου πατρικίου (καὶ) Θεοφυλάκτου
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Wreath border.
γνι
κνκο
ρκιαρι
ναποθηκησ
λλισπ.
.τ
γενικῶν κομμερκιαρίων ἀποθήκης [Ἑ]λλισπ[όν]τ[ου]
Obverse
On the upper half, busts of two emperors (the one on the left is bearded) holding between them a cross potent mounted on a base of two steps. They are undoubtedly Justinian II (685-695, 705-711) and his son Tiberios (705-711). On either side is the indiction year: -ζ. On the lower half, there is an inscription of four lines. Wreath border.
γργιουπ
ατρικιου
Sθοφυλ
ακτου
Γεωργίου πατρικίου (καὶ) Θεοφυλάκτου
Reverse
Inscription of five lines. Wreath border.
γνι
κνκο
ρκιαρι
ναποθηκησ
λλισπ.
.τ
γενικῶν κομμερκιαρίων ἀποθήκης [Ἑ]λλισπ[όν]τ[ου]
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.658 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 32.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 3, no. 47.1. Zacos-Veglery, no. 206; Dated Seals, no. 27. |
Translation
Ἰνδικτιὼν ζ'.
Indiction 6.
Γεωργίου πατρικίου καὶ Θεοφυλάκτου γενικῶν κομμερκιαρίων ἀποθήκης Ἑλλισπόντου.
(Seal of) George the patrikios and Theophylaktos, general kommerkiarioi of the apotheke of the Hellespont.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 3: West, Northwest, and Central Asia Minor and the Orient (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- A Collection of Dated Byzantine Lead Seals (Open in Zotero)
- Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and Whittemore Collection, Vol. 2, Phocas to Theodosius III (602-717) (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
The identification of the emperors is based on the resemblance of their effigies to those of Justinian II and Tiberios as they appear on their seal (Zacos-Veglery, no. 29) and on their coins (Grierson, Catalogue II/2, pl. 43), including the detail that the child's hand is placed above that of the father.
This is the Roman province of the Hellespont, the name of which was in current use on seals of kommerkiarioi of the late seventh and early eighth centuries: Zacos-Veglery I, 176-77.