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John . . . kommerkiarios of the apotheke of Constantinople (seventh century)

 
 

Obverse

An emperor standing, wearing a chlamys and crown. Along the circumference remains of a circular inscription, beginning at 12 o'clock. No visible border.

ΝΝΟΥ.

[Ἰω]άννου [. . .]

Reverse

Four lines of inscription visible. No visible border.

ΡΚΙ
ΥΠΟΘΙΚ
ΚΩΝΣΤ
ΤΙΝΟΥ

[κομμ]ερκια[ρίο]υ ἀποθίκ[ης] Κωνστ[αν]τινου[πόλεως].

Obverse

An emperor standing, wearing a chlamys and crown. Along the circumference remains of a circular inscription, beginning at 12 o'clock. No visible border.

ΝΝΟΥ.

[Ἰω]άννου [. . .]

Reverse

Four lines of inscription visible. No visible border.

ΡΚΙ
ΥΠΟΘΙΚ
ΚΩΝΣΤ
ΤΙΝΟΥ

[κομμ]ερκια[ρίο]υ ἀποθίκ[ης] Κωνστ[αν]τινου[πόλεως].

Accession number BZS 1958.106.669
Diameter 26.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 5 no. 23.7; Zacos–Veglery, no. 182c.

Translation

Ἰωάννου . . . κομμερκιαρίου ἀποθίκης Κωνσταντινουπόλεως.

(Seal of) John . . . kommerkiarios of the apotheke of Constantinople.

Commentary

Zacos and Veglery have assigned this specimen to the reign of Justinian II and dated it to the indiction year 692/93. The close dating is rooted in their assumption that this specimen is parallel with seals on which the indiction date is visible (see BZS.1955.1.4376 and BZS.1955.1.4388). But the fact is that barely anything can be seen on the obverse, neither the figure of the emperor nor an indiction date. And although the lettering on the reverse resembles that on BZS 1955.1.4376, the size of the letters in the name differs; as a result, the present seal is listed separately.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings (Open in Zotero)
  • Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)