Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 41 2 Dec 2017
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Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus PB Seal. Constantinople, 27 January - 6 April AD 945. [+ IҺSЧS] XRIS[TЧS], facing bust of Christ Pantokrator, right hand blessing and holding book of Gospels in left / [+] CONST [AЧT bASIL ROM], crowned facing bust of Constantine, wearing loros and holding globus curciger surmounted by a patriarchal cross. BLS I, 70b; DOCBS 6, 63.1. 19.08g, 31mm, 12h.
Very Fine.
Constantine Porphyrogenitus was the son of Leo VI by his fourth wife, Zoe Carbonopsina, and shared the status of co-emperor with his uncle Alexander from the age of four. Following the death of Leo in 912, Constantine retained his status under Alexander until the latter's death the following year. As Constantine was by now only the age of seven, the government was assumed by his mother Zoe for the next six years. In 919 Constantine married Helena, the daughter of his admiral Romanus Lecapenus, who assumed the regency and became Augustus the following year. For almost a quarter of a century, Constantine was to be allowed no part in government and relegated to the third level of succession behind the eldest son of Romanus, Christopher.
The unexpected deposition of Romanus in December 944 at the hands of his two surviving sons, Stephen and Constantine, finally gave the legitimate emperor the opportunity to seize power for himself. Both the Lecapeni were quickly dethroned and on 27 January 945, Constantine finally became sole ruler at the age of 39. An issue of solidi bearing the sole portrait of Constantine and the title autokrator (sole ruler) were struck to commemorate the event (see Sear 1747) and provide close parallel to the reverse portrait on this imperial seal. The aforementioned group of solidi and this seal have been assigned to the ten week period of the sole reign of Constantine, before his son, Romanus II, became co-emperor on 6 April 945. It is possible that this seal was produced to accompany documents announcing the sole reign of Constantine across the empire.
While the individual portrait of Constantine signifies the end of nearly three decades lived in the shadow of regents and rival emperors, it also marks a departure from the double-portraits of emperors and their heirs found on the seals of the Macedonian dynasty since the reign of Basil I.
Very Fine.
Constantine Porphyrogenitus was the son of Leo VI by his fourth wife, Zoe Carbonopsina, and shared the status of co-emperor with his uncle Alexander from the age of four. Following the death of Leo in 912, Constantine retained his status under Alexander until the latter's death the following year. As Constantine was by now only the age of seven, the government was assumed by his mother Zoe for the next six years. In 919 Constantine married Helena, the daughter of his admiral Romanus Lecapenus, who assumed the regency and became Augustus the following year. For almost a quarter of a century, Constantine was to be allowed no part in government and relegated to the third level of succession behind the eldest son of Romanus, Christopher.
The unexpected deposition of Romanus in December 944 at the hands of his two surviving sons, Stephen and Constantine, finally gave the legitimate emperor the opportunity to seize power for himself. Both the Lecapeni were quickly dethroned and on 27 January 945, Constantine finally became sole ruler at the age of 39. An issue of solidi bearing the sole portrait of Constantine and the title autokrator (sole ruler) were struck to commemorate the event (see Sear 1747) and provide close parallel to the reverse portrait on this imperial seal. The aforementioned group of solidi and this seal have been assigned to the ten week period of the sole reign of Constantine, before his son, Romanus II, became co-emperor on 6 April 945. It is possible that this seal was produced to accompany documents announcing the sole reign of Constantine across the empire.
While the individual portrait of Constantine signifies the end of nearly three decades lived in the shadow of regents and rival emperors, it also marks a departure from the double-portraits of emperors and their heirs found on the seals of the Macedonian dynasty since the reign of Basil I.