Leu Numismatik AG
Auction 3 27 Oct 2018
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Byzantine Seals. Seal (Lead, 23 mm, 9.94 g, 12 h), Theodoros, metropolitan of Laodikeia, circa 968-1084. ✱+ΘЄOTOK Θ ROHΘЄI✱ Nimbate facing bust of the Virgin holding bust of infant Christ with cross-nimbus. Rev. •+• / ΘЄOΔω/Pω MHTPO/ΠΟΛ' ΛAOΔI/KЄIAC in five lines. DOC -, cf. 5, 12.1 (smaller module and legend in three lines on the obverse). Zacos -. Very rare. Minor weakness on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.
Theodoros was, as we learn from the smaller seal in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection, the metropolitan of the Syrian Laodikeia (DOC 5, 12.1: ΛAOΔIKЄIAC T MΓ = Laodikeia the Great, to differentiate it from the Phrygian Laodikeia). This helps us in dating the seal, since the greater Laodikeia was reconquered in 968 by Nikephoros II after more than three hundred years of Muslim rule, and it remained in Byzantine control until 1084.
Theodoros was, as we learn from the smaller seal in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection, the metropolitan of the Syrian Laodikeia (DOC 5, 12.1: ΛAOΔIKЄIAC T MΓ = Laodikeia the Great, to differentiate it from the Phrygian Laodikeia). This helps us in dating the seal, since the greater Laodikeia was reconquered in 968 by Nikephoros II after more than three hundred years of Muslim rule, and it remained in Byzantine control until 1084.