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Roman lead seal “Sacrifice of Isaac” 3rd-4th century ADRoman lead seal “Sacrifice of Isaac”
3rd-4th century AD
Abraham standing left, holding dagger in uplifted right hand; before him, kneeling left, Isaac; to right, tree with ram; to right above, hand of God
Cf. J. Spier “Late antique gems” S4 (with inscription EIC ΘEOC) and S5 (scene reversed); 17x14x6mm; 4.38 gram.
The story of the sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22, 1-19) serves as an archetypical story of salvation and the ram sent by God to replace Isaac as a sacrifice was (and still is) interpreted by chistians as a typology for Christ. For this reason it was a popular iconographical theme during the earliest stages of christianity.
GertJun 20, 2014
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Bardas Parsakoutenos, magistros and doux of Anatolikon. Lead seal c. AD 970-990 10291|Bardas Parsakoutenos, magistros and doux of Anatolikon. Lead seal c. AD 970-990
Star with six rays ending in something resembling arrows; circular invocational legend + KE ROHΘEI TW CW ΔUΛW
+RAPΔ|MAΓICTP,|S ΔUΞ TWN| ANATOΛ’K|TWN OÎ AT|O Î APCK’ in six lines
30mm; 16.24gram.
Before turning to the identification of the seal’s owner, there are a number of issues to be addressed about the reverse legend. Up to the fourth line, all is clear. A nominative legend listing Bardas’ dignity of magistros and his office of doux ton Anatolikon. The last line has his family name Pars(a)k(outenos). The fifth line, however, does not make sense. It might be an engraver’s error, repeating TWN of the third line and O Î AP of the last line. This explanation, even though unelegant, has to do for now, unless an otherwise unknown office or command is meant.
The seal’s owner is probably the person named in Leon Diakonos (VII.1) as one of three brothers Parsakoutenos, who backed Bardas Phokas the younger during his rebellion of AD 970 against John I Tzimiskes. These brothers, Theodore, Bardas and Nikephoros took their name, according to Leon, “after the city of their birth, Parsakouta”, which is a village on the road between Nymphaion and Sardis in the Thrakesian theme (p. 162, n.4 of the English edition). Leon adds that the Parsakoutenoi were cousins of Bardas Phokas and that they held the rank of patrikios and adds that they ‘mustered troops with great zeal’. Skylitzes (291.13-14) adds that Theodore and Nikephoros were the sons of the patrikios Theodoulos Parsakoutenos, and were exarchs in Cappadocia (p. 162, n.3). The rebellion, however, was extinguished by the skilled general Bardas Skleros, and Bardas Phokas was temporarily imprisoned.
Leon Diakonos once again mentions Bardas Parsakoutenos in book X, chapter 7, during the revolt of Bardas Skleros. He is now called magistros, a higher rank than patrikios, which implies that his earlier allegience to a usurper had not frustrated his political career. In the late 970’s, Skleros conquered large parts of Asia and was threatening to blockade the Dardanelles, hindering merchants and grain transports to the capital. In the end, he was defeated by Bardas Phokas on 24th of March 979 and fled to Muslim territory. But before his final defeat on the battleground, according to Leon Diakonos, his fortress at Abydos was seized, his army destroyed, and fire was set to his fleet of triremes by an imperial fleet of fireships dispatched from the capital under the command of Bardas Parsakoutenos. The seal, listing Bardas’ dignity as magistros, not patrikios as attested in AD 970, might well be from this period.
GertJun 20, 2014
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Basileios, diakonos, chartoularios and protekdikos. Byzantine lead seal 11th century ADBasileios, diakonos, chartoularios and protekdikos. Byzantine lead seal 11th century AD
The Virgin Hodegetria, wearing nimbus, chiton and maphorion, pointing with her right hand to Infant Christ, who she is holding on her left arm. Christ is wearing a nimbus cruciger decorated with pearls, chiton and himation. He is holding a scroll in his left hand, his right hand resting in the fold of his mother’s maphorion below the chin. In left and right fields, MP–ΘV; Circular inscription +ΘKE ROHΘEI-[TW CW ΔOVΛW] within two concentric circles
+RACI|ΛEIW ΔIA|KON,XTU|KAI ΠPO|TEKΔI|KW in six lines
35mm, 22.26g; extremely fine but for some areas of striking weakness, and of the finest style.
As protekdikos, Basileios was the presiding cleric of the tribunal of priests of Hagia Sophia, known as the ekdikoi. As chartoularios he was assistant to the patriarch of Constantinopolis.
GertJun 20, 2014
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Byzantine seal invoking Ephraim the Syrian - 11th century ADByzantine lead seal Ephraim 11th century AD
Nimbate half-length bust of Saint Ephraim, holding cross in right hand and scroll in left hand; to left:
Θ|E|V; to r.: Φ|P|E
+|EVΦPAIM|CKEΠOIC M,|TON CVNW|NVMON|ΠATEP in five lines
17mm; 4.47g; extremely fine.
This seems to be the only known Byzantine seal with the portrait of Ephraim/Ephrem the Syrian.
The reverse legend is a twelve syllable verse which translates “Father Ephraim, may you protect me, who shares your name.”
GertOct 15, 2013
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Roman lead seal "Lamb of God" 4th century ADRoman lead seal “Lamb of God”
4th century AD
Lamb of God to right, head facing, wearing nimbus; above head, cross; to left, dove holding branch; to right, cross or trace of inscription
Cf. a lead seal published by J. Spier in “Late antique gems”, S11, which has the lamb to left, and no nimbus and dove; 2.35g; 15mm; very fineGertOct 15, 2013
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Roman imperial seal of Maximinus I and Maximus CaesarRoman lead seal of Maximinus I AD 235-238
Draped and laureate bust of Maximinus to r., confronted by draped, bareheaded bust of Maximus Caesar to l.; above, P and an uncertain letter to the right
17x16x4; 3.23g. Dutch private collection.
GertJun 17, 2013
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Roman lead seal - Dancing girlRoman lead seal “Dancing girl” c. 3rd-4th century AD
Dancing girl, in long chiton, stole draped over right arm, turning around in dance, holding timbrel in each hand.
18x15x10mm; 9.85g; Conical shape; very fine; Ex Münzzentrum 13-01-2010.
The dancing figure on this seal was conjectured by the MZ cataloguer to be Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Moses and Aron, who lead a dance after the Jews crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 15:19-32), but the pose is also typical of dancing nymphs and meanads.
GertJun 17, 2013
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Roman imperial lead seal late 4th/early 5th centuryRoman imperial lead seal late 4th/early 5th century
Three imperial busts facing, all draped and diademed. The central bust largest, the left bust smallest; above each bust, christogram; to left, DDD and to right, [NNN].
5.13g; 19x15x6mm; 5.13g
GertJun 11, 2013
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Roman imperial lead seal of Constantius IIRoman imperial lead seal of Constantius II AD 337-361, struck c. 355-361
D N CONSTANTIVS * MAX AVGVSTVS; pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right
15x22x8 mm, 6.40 g; reverse conical
GertJun 11, 2013
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Roman lead seal 'Roman lead seal c. 3rd century
REGIONIS ELLESPONL - ACA - E; Ram standing right
18mm
The inscription reads "Regionis Hellespon(ti)acae" indicating this seal belonged to the region of the Hellespont. The ram is probably a reference to the legend of the Golden Fleece, that took place, for a part, in this region.GertJun 08, 2013
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Roman lead seal “Good Shepherd”Roman lead seal “Good Shepherd” c. 3rd-4th century AD
Jesus Christ, as the Good Shepherd, standing left, wearing short sleeveless tunic, carrying sheep across his shoulders. Two more sheep on either side.
Cf. J. Spier “Late antique gems” S10-17, Asamer and Winter “Antike Bleiplomben”, 122, no. 4; 18x14x7mm; 4.45g; extremely fine
GertJun 08, 2013
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Roman lead imperial seal of Constantine II CaesarRoman imperial lead seal of Constantine II Caesar AD 317-337
CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB.C; laureate bust right
Victory advancing left, holding palm branch and wreath
13mm; 3.08g; very fine; Found Zuid-Limburg, Heerlen, near the German border
Apparently unpublished, but cf. Leukel 74 for a seal of Constantine II with a draped bust and Victory advancing right. Leukel publishes several seals of this period produced with a boulloterion, and Oikonomides in SBS I (1987) publishes an actual boulloterion of Constans Caesar, contemporary with this seal.
Although he was only a child at the time, Constantine II became the formal commander of “Gaul” upon the death of his half-brother Crispus in AD 320. Present-day Netherlands was part of his domain and so it is no coincidence that a seal of his would be found here.
GertJun 08, 2013
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BYZANTINE, Heraclius, Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas SolidusHeraclius AD 610-641, with Heraclius Constantine and Heraclonas. Gold Solidus Constantinopolis, 5th officina, AD 638/9-641
Heraclius (in centre), Heraclius Constantine (on r.) and Heraclonas (on l.), all standing facing, holding globus cruciger
VICTORIA AVGЧE; cross potent set on three steps, monogram to left; CONOB in ex
Sear 769; 4.46g; 20mm
This coin is resting at least 75 years in private collections, as it came with a ticket dated 8th of May 1936, Robert Ball Nchf., Berlin, Germany.GertOct 10, 2012
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Juno (Sospita)* AR Denarius Procilia 1, moneyer L. Procili F.
* Rome 80 BC
* Obv: Laur. head of Jupiter. To l.: S•C.
* Rev: Cult statue of Juno Sospita, stg. r., wearring goatskin and holding shield in l.hand, and hurling spear with r.hand; before snake, behind: L•PROCILI / F downwards.
* 18,5 mm
* Crawford 379/1.
GertSep 27, 2004
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ROMAN EMPIRE, Magnentius Barb* AE Barbaric imitation of a (½) Centenionalis Magnentius (350-353)
* Local mint in Gallia 350-353
* DN MAGNENTIVS PF AVG. Bare head of Magnentius, cuirassed and draped.
* I…IT C (omgekeerd) IVCC. In field: SP; In ex: T R. Two Victories with ornamented shield inscribed …I / V / TVN / X
* 17 mm / 2,19 g. Die axis: 225 degrees. Wonderful green patina.
* Compare RIC 312 (Trier) and for SP in field (Lyons) 136, 138, 140 en 142. Does not appear in Bastien's monography.
I could have easily placed this coin, acquired here at Forvm, in the 'favorite coin'-section because it takes a very special place in my collection. I love the fine style of the barbaric celator, who - in my honest opinion - was extraordinarily talented. It should take some effort on my part to get my hands on an imitation that's more beautiful in appearance than this one.GertJun 26, 2004
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PanAE27 Elagabalus (218-222)
Nikopolis ad Istrum, consular legate Novius Rufus
Obv: AVT K M AVPH ANTΩNINOC. Laur. draped and cuir. bust r.R
Rev: VÎ NOBIOV ROVΦOV NIKOÎ OΛITΩN Î PO; In ex: CICTPΩ· Pan, stg.r., horned, holding rabbitcatcher (lagobalon) over shoulder, flute in hand, foot on panther lying supile on the ground.
27 mm / Porosity
Moushmov 1436GertJun 25, 2004
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Roman Empire, Maximianus, AE quinariusObv: MAXIMIANVS AVG. Laur. bust r.
Rev: HERCVLI DEBALLAT. Hercules battling Hydra
15,5 mm, found in TurkeyGertJun 23, 2004
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