George imperial spatharokandidatos and kourator of the metaxa (ninth century, second half)
Obverse
A patriarchal cross mounted on a base of steps; details indistinct. Within concentric borders of dots, a circular inscription beginning with a cross at seven o'clock:
κ.οη̣θτ̣σδ̣ο̣υ̣λ̣̣
Κ(ύρι)[ε] βοήθ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines beginning with a cross. Thin wreath border.
γεορ
γισπ
θδκρ
τρητσμ̣
ετ̣ησ
Γεογργίῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αροκαν)δ(ιδάτῳ) (καὶ) κουράτωρη τ(ῆ)ς μετάξης
Obverse
A patriarchal cross mounted on a base of steps; details indistinct. Within concentric borders of dots, a circular inscription beginning with a cross at seven o'clock:
κ.οη̣θτ̣σδ̣ο̣υ̣λ̣̣
Κ(ύρι)[ε] βοήθ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines beginning with a cross. Thin wreath border.
γεορ
γισπ
θδκρ
τρητσμ̣
ετ̣ησ
Γεογργίῳ β(ασιλικῷ) σπαθ(αροκαν)δ(ιδάτῳ) (καὶ) κουράτωρη τ(ῆ)ς μετάξης
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.848 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 23.0 mm; field: 19.0 mm |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Γεογργίῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαροκανδιδάτῳ καὶ κουράτωρη τῆς μετάξης.
Lord, help your servant George, imperial spatharokandidatos and kourator of the metaxa.
Commentary
We read the second letter of the third line as delta with an abbreviation, an unusual but not implausible contraction of spatharokandidatos. But it is also possible that this letter is an alpha, in which case the owner, an official supervising the production or sale of silk, held the title of imperial spatharios.