Antiquities Discussion Forums > Seals and Tesserae
Identification Help on Lead Seal
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Kath D2:
Part of a group of lead seals that we need help in identifying. I will be posting them one at a time here.
Any assistance with any information on these coins would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Kath Durand
Forum Ancient Coins
99058 10.250g 31.0mm Legend retrograd HXA PICEI MI / blank
djmacdo:
Again, you will do better posting them in the Byzantine or seals sections on this board.
v-drome:
Hi Kath. There are several of these on Gert Boersema's ( a Procurator Monetae here at Forum) archives on vcoins:
[Link removed by Admin]
From his description:
Lead tessera or amulet. Holy Land, Roman times
AXH / IECIP / IM (retrograde) in three lines
"The inscription of this amulet reads ‘H XAPIC EIMI’ – ‘I am grace’. Although this phrase is not literally found in the New Testament, it echoes the saying of Jesus in John 14:6 ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.’ The Greek word ‘charis’, moreover, is extensively used in the New Testament. Epigraphically, the inscription resembles so-called ‘magical’ or ‘gnostic’ engraved gems and amulets, also bearing retrograde inscriptions and square lunate sigmas."
Gert:
Yes, I recognize that description, but I have changed my mind on this and no longer believe this has a New Testament connection. It is much more likely a votive mirror, with an inscription 'I am the gratitude', i.e. for the divine favor.
Regards
GErt
v-drome:
Very interesting. Thank you, Gert, for correcting my response.
Best regards, Jimi
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