Dutch Numismatic Auction
Auction 3 28 Apr 2019
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Byzantine, Andreas Koubikoularios
Byzantine lead seal (22 mm, 8.55 gram). 659-668 AD. Andreas koubikoularios riding on horseback to right, head right, holding a roll in cylindrical recepticle in his right hand, extended to the left / Cruciform monogram ANΔPEOV; in the four angles CU-bI-CU-a|Lr. Zacos/Veglery 1375; Seibt/Zarnitz 4.3.11; Nesbitt c.s., Hecht 6. Good very fine. Andreas koubikoularios is known from written sources. He was a powerful eunuch, courtier of emperor Constantine IV (cf. PmbZ 353), and even had some legendary stories attached to his name. Theophanes (cf. 348-351) tells the story of Andreas at the court of the Umayyad Caliph Muawiyah I, as an emissary of the Byzantine emperor. There he meets a stratelates named Sergios, who is the emissary of the usurpator Saborios. While both men try to gain the Caliph's support for their masters, Sergios scorns Andreas for being an eunuch. But after the meeting, Andreas succeeds in capturing Sabarios' emissary and takes a fitting revenge. Sergios' genitals are cut off and he is tied to a pole. Andreas is also known for his capture of the important fortress of Amorion from the Arabs in the winter AD 668-69, killing a defence force of 5000. Several identifications have been offered for the obverse figure and the object he is holding. Most probable perhaps is the interpretation offered by the editors of the Hecht col. catalogue. They identify the rider as Andreas koubikoularios himself, in the guise of imperial mandator or messenger. The object in his hand must be the message, a roll inside a cylindrical recepticle.
Byzantine lead seal (22 mm, 8.55 gram). 659-668 AD. Andreas koubikoularios riding on horseback to right, head right, holding a roll in cylindrical recepticle in his right hand, extended to the left / Cruciform monogram ANΔPEOV; in the four angles CU-bI-CU-a|Lr. Zacos/Veglery 1375; Seibt/Zarnitz 4.3.11; Nesbitt c.s., Hecht 6. Good very fine. Andreas koubikoularios is known from written sources. He was a powerful eunuch, courtier of emperor Constantine IV (cf. PmbZ 353), and even had some legendary stories attached to his name. Theophanes (cf. 348-351) tells the story of Andreas at the court of the Umayyad Caliph Muawiyah I, as an emissary of the Byzantine emperor. There he meets a stratelates named Sergios, who is the emissary of the usurpator Saborios. While both men try to gain the Caliph's support for their masters, Sergios scorns Andreas for being an eunuch. But after the meeting, Andreas succeeds in capturing Sabarios' emissary and takes a fitting revenge. Sergios' genitals are cut off and he is tied to a pole. Andreas is also known for his capture of the important fortress of Amorion from the Arabs in the winter AD 668-69, killing a defence force of 5000. Several identifications have been offered for the obverse figure and the object he is holding. Most probable perhaps is the interpretation offered by the editors of the Hecht col. catalogue. They identify the rider as Andreas koubikoularios himself, in the guise of imperial mandator or messenger. The object in his hand must be the message, a roll inside a cylindrical recepticle.