An Unidentified Byzantine Seal with Parallels to Dometios and Zacos 313

[B*Numis]

Here’s quite an intriguing seal — probably one without a clear solution.

It shows strong similarities with this specimen sold by Gert:
https://www.vcoins.com/fr/stores/gert_boersema/25/product/dometios_byzantine_lead_seal_20x23_mm_885_gram_6th7th_centuries/1963476/Default.aspx

However, mine is closer to Mâpianov–Zacos no. 313.

[John Min]

On the right, you have an OV ligature.

This is not the one found in the Zacos 313 monogram...

However, if we consider a P (??) on the left, we could agree on an identical solution.

Something intrigues me: the OV ligature on the right is slightly offset to the left of the stem that carries it: another letter??

On the other hand, the bottom line is unclear: base or edge ?

John

[B*Numis]

Hi John, yes, that’s why I said it “mine is closer to.”

I think there’s a P on the right — you can see part of a letter, and it seems to me it can only be a P.

Gert mentions an imperial bust… but why imperial?

[John Min]

For me, imperial bust : typical headdress (and drapery of the garment)...

If there's a P (??) on the right, a “theta” on the left ?? Not very clear for me...

[B*Numis]

My mistake — it’s the break in the flan

[B*Numis]

For the bottom line, it's not easy to tell, but at first I thought I saw a delta, yes.

[B*Numis]

and with delta is proche of zacos 497

[John Min]

A bottom line in the monogram or the border of the seal ?...

In the photo, with the play of light, this line seems to have a little relief... But light effects can sometimes be misleading.

[B*Numis]

Yes, there’s clearly a line, but since it’s twisted with a wavy effect, I wasn’t sure if it could be taken into account.

[B*Numis]

But I think the line of pellets shifted during the sealing. We might be looking at a Marinos / Marianos.

https://www.doaks.org/resources/seals/byzantine-seals/BZS.1955.1.42/view

[B*Numis]

I still have this one set aside… I can’t help but see on the obverse the same style of bust as some of the gods on the coins and tessera of Palmyra… and since many of the seals currently for sale seem to come from that region…

[B*Numis]

Not marinos

same boulloterion

[John Min]

.../... Not exactly same...

Letter “Delta” and others to be added to the list...

Previous John writes :
Something intrigues me: the OV ligature on the right is slightly offset to the left of the stem that carries it: another letter??
On the other hand, the bottom line is unclear: base or edge ?

Another letter : C (squarre) and K !
Base : "Delta" !

[John Min]

One Other...

[B*Numis]

I’ll study all this during the week; I’ve been away for a few days for professional appointments

[John Min]

Obverse : define the character, the person represented, as precisely as possible…

Reverse (to be completed) :

Α Δ Θ I K Λ Μ Ν Ο C V X         Maybe Θ on top of the left leg ?...

« thi »      Anthimos
« tho »      Kolluthos, katholikos
« tha »      Thalassios, Athanasios, diakonos Athanasios, Thaddäus
Διακονίας Ἀθανασίου      The diakonia of the property of Athanasios (seventh century)
https://www.doaks.org/resources/seals/byzantine-seals/BZS.1958.106.181/view

« ma »      Damasos, Malis (Malidi, Malidos), Kosmas, Malakinos, Kallimachos, Nikomachos, Mamanios, Amamios, Simaios, Mamalos, Symmachos
« mi »      Dynamios, Damianos, Mikkinas, Aimilianos, Aimilios, Mamianos, Amamios, Dominos, nomikos
« mo »      monachos, oikonomos, monachos (and) oikonomos, Kinnamos, Moschos, Samos, Didymos, Mundos, Domnos, Mosilios, Musilios

« cha »      Chasanios, Charyssios, Chasanes       To be completed………
« chi »
« cho »

« ka »
« ki »
« ko »

.../...

[John Min]

.../...

[B*Numis]

I’ve just started searching more or less with the Feind, I’m listing a few names but one sounds particularly fitting for this kind of seal, it seems to me: didaskalos + one first name to find (which I think will be easy) with the remaining letters.

For me the figure may be wearing a mural crown and probably represents an allegorical personification — most likely a local Tyche or an urban personification.

didaskalos
Diamanos
Dynamios
Klaudios
Domnika
Diakonia​
diakonos / Archidiakonos
Akindynos
danielos
kandidos
demochares
synadenos
malis

[John Min]

We'd like to know why you chose that one !?
You could have pulled other titles out of your hat, couldn't you?
For example, katholikos...
And who knows, maybe you could combine it with the one you pulled out of your hat: katholikos didaskalos. Do you know any?

[B*Numis]

We'd like to know why you chose that one !?
You could have pulled other titles out of your hat, couldn't you?
For example, katholikos...
And who knows, maybe you could combine it with the one you pulled out of your hat: katholikos didaskalos. Do you know any?

Because I have only searched in one chapter of the book so far! It’s very long! lol

[John Min]

...!!...

Diameter, please ?

Is it a seal (with a clearly visible channel) or a tessera? or lead coin ?

[B*Numis]

Mine is 12 mm; the others are larger, around 15 mm (I had checked the correspondence).
On my specimen, the seal’s hole is clearly visible, filled in, but maybe it’s just a defect and what I take for the notch isn’t one… but to me, it is one

I’ll continue my research tomorrow (right now I’m working on my accounting report — not as exciting as seals and coins!!)

[John Min]

Mine is 12 mm; the others are larger, around 15 mm (I had checked the correspondence).

That's normal, since yours is very cropped.

On my specimen, the seal’s hole is clearly visible, filled in, but maybe it’s just a defect and what I take for the notch isn’t one… but to me, it is one

Two holes for the cord channel

John

[B*Numis]

Mine is 12 mm; the others are larger, around 15 mm (I had checked the correspondence).

That's normal, since yours is very cropped.

On my specimen, the seal’s hole is clearly visible, filled in, but maybe it’s just a defect and what I take for the notch isn’t one… but to me, it is one

Two holes for the cord channel

John

Yes, of course, that’s why I said that I had checked the diameter correspondence with the other examples first.
And yes, of course, I also have two marks on each side that look like holes, but filled with concretions or soil.

[John Min]

The one I found :

N&N London Green Auction XIII 14.08.2023 Lot 1067 17mm 3.48 g

https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nnlondon/browse?a=3752&l=4338828

John