Interesting Byzantine Seal 6th-7th Century Potentios?

[pogh_poor]

I acquired a nice 6th-7th Byzantine seal which measures 19.62 mm  and weighs 6.55 g.  On the obverse is a bust of the Theotokos facing, holding the infant Christ; crosses flanking.  On the reverse, is a cruciform monogram with either ( eta) or   (Pi)    ( or    ) and    I think that this seal dates from the 6th or 7th Century.  Could the monogram read as some form of Potentios?  Any opinions?  Pogh_poor

[Gert]

Isn't that a retrograde gamma on the left? Or do you see evidence of a weakly struck pi? That is certainly E at the left. Potentios is unlikely because there's no trace of N. In fact, with these letters, I can't think of anything. Perhaps a rho is missing for 'Georgiou'...
Regards
Gert

[pogh_poor]

It definitely is not a weakly struck Pi.  I think that it is very plausibly a retrograde Gamma although the letter appears quite similar a character on a seal in the Dumbarton Oaks collection which they concluded was an Eta.  However, if it was an Eta, it really makes no sense.  With Gamma, it would be quite similar to many examples of George.  Does it appear to be 6th Century to you too?  Pogh_poor

[Gert]

Yes, these are usually dated 550-650 in Zacos/Veglery. If you'd like to be more precise, I'd say end 6th century, but that is largely subjective.
Regards
Gert

[pogh_poor]

Here is an example of a similar character -though I think that its a weakly struck Pi in the Dumbarton Oaks example


Obverse

Cruciform monogram. Wreath border.

α - λ - ο - π - υ

Παύλου

Seal of) Paul kandidatos.