FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Antiquities Discussion Forums => Seals and Tesserae => Topic started by: turanoid on December 25, 2011, 11:59:19 am

Title: ID Help : Lead Seal / Bulla / Token #4
Post by: turanoid on December 25, 2011, 11:59:19 am
Hi friends, I have difficulties with this seal, I guess it's a byzantine seal,but could anybody tell me what is written on the obverse and reverse?
Thank you in advance.
Title: Re: ID Help : Lead Seal / Bulla / Token #4
Post by: byzcoll on December 25, 2011, 04:53:22 pm
Hi,

I suggest that the monogram looks like mongram 61, Justinian II, first reign. Around that I read just IOV  -  ST? - IN - OV   instead of Ioustininanou (?). Experts may have better explanations. Two more of your seals have the same monogram.

byzcoll
Title: Re: ID Help : Lead Seal / Bulla / Token #4
Post by: Gert on December 26, 2011, 03:05:42 am
Hi Byzcoll,
You are spot on about the name, but the monogram is invocational - QEOTOKE BOHQEI (Theotokos aid Justin). His office/dignity on the reverse.
Regards
Gert
Title: Re: ID Help : Lead Seal / Bulla / Token #4
Post by: Gert on December 26, 2011, 03:19:05 am
The rev. reads 'CILENTIAPIW', so Justin had the ceremonial title of 'silentiarios'.
By the way, this seal would date about 8th century, so it hasn't got anything to do with the emperors named Justin.
Regards
Gert
Title: Re: ID Help : Lead Seal / Bulla / Token #4
Post by: benito on December 26, 2011, 03:50:45 am
For those interested in Byzantine seals the best references can be found in the six volumes of :

"Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art".
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              From Seals of Emperors and Patriarchs to those of other officials of lesser importance such as protospatharios,strategos, spatharokandidatos,
genikos logothetes,and the almost entire Byzantine administration.

They can make a nice collection and much cheaper than  birdies.