Nomos AG
Auction 18 5 May 2019
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Kosmas Illustrius. Circa 550-650. Seal (Lead, 26 mm, 12.61 g, 12 h). KOCMΑ in cruciform arrangement with the C meant to be read twice; with two 8-rayed stars above and below. Rev. S within large U; above, below and to left and right, 8-rayed star. Dumbarton Oaks BZS.1951.31.5.2922. Zacos I 1359. Sharp and most attractive. Virtually as struck.
Exactly what the letters on the reverse are meant to mean is uncertain. The DO piece was read as O-SU and dismissed as "undecipherable". Another example, well-preserved but not as sharp as this one, appeared in three German auctions: Hirsch 281, 2012, 1140 = Naumann 27, 2015, 913 = Münz Zentrum Rheinland 175, 2016, 1164. In the last mentioned the reverse was seen as being a block monogram for the Latin term ILLUS[TR]IUS with the first upright on the left standing for I (read twice), the curved section for the U (read twice), the upright on the right with the angled bottom for L (read twice, and the S (again read twice). This explanation makes very good sense.
Exactly what the letters on the reverse are meant to mean is uncertain. The DO piece was read as O-SU and dismissed as "undecipherable". Another example, well-preserved but not as sharp as this one, appeared in three German auctions: Hirsch 281, 2012, 1140 = Naumann 27, 2015, 913 = Münz Zentrum Rheinland 175, 2016, 1164. In the last mentioned the reverse was seen as being a block monogram for the Latin term ILLUS[TR]IUS with the first upright on the left standing for I (read twice), the curved section for the U (read twice), the upright on the right with the angled bottom for L (read twice, and the S (again read twice). This explanation makes very good sense.