Obverse is Saint Demetrios. Date late 11th-early 12th century. The
legend reads
MAPTVC
ΠAPACXE KV
THN CHN CKE
ΠHN ΠPWTO
ΠPOEΔPW
RAPΔAΛH
CW NIKH[TA]
Two 12 syllable verses: "Martyr of
Christ, give your protection to the protoproedros Niketas Bardales", a high ranking courtier.
Ref.
Wassiliou-Seibt, Corpus 1380. There is another seal
type with the same
legend, but with the higher court dignity of protokouropalates (Was.-Seibt 1379,
Laurent, Orghidan 114). This seal however has St. Theodore. So either, they both belong the same person, documenting
his promotion. Or they belong to two different individuals, perhaps cousins of the same family, with the name first name.
Regards
Gert
