Ares Numismatics
Web Auction 3 20 Oct 2019
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Lead seal of Michael patrikios and great kourator (11th cent.)
Obverse: The bust of the Mother of God, facial, nimbate, with infant Jesus Christ on her left hand, also nimbate, facial and blessing, all within dotted border. The usual inscription Μ(ΗΤΗ)Ρ- Θ(ΕΟ)[Υ] (Mother of God).
Reverse: Inscription in 7 lines within a dotted border: +Κ(ΥΡΙ)Ε ΒΟΗ/[Θ]ΕΙ ΜΙΧΑ(ΗΛ) Π(ΑΤ)ΡΙ(ΚΙΩ)/[Κ]ΑΙ ΜΕΓΑΛΩ/ΚΟΥΡΑΤΩΡΙ Τ(ΩΝ)/ΟΞΕΩΝ ΤΩ/ΜΩCΗ ΔΕ ΔΟΥΛΩ(?)= Κύριε βοήθει Μιχαὴλ πατρικίῳ καὶ μεγάλῳ κουράτωρι τῶν Ὀξέων, τῷ Μωσῇ δὲ δούλῳ (Lord, help Michael patrikius and great kourator of the Oxeon, and servant of Moses [the prophet]).
For the high dignity of kourator and kouratoreia in byzantine empire see: Kazdan et alii, Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, II, pp. 1155-1156.
Condition: Very Fine, Slightly off-center sealing nevertheless completely legible inscription.
Weight: 11.23 gr
Diameter: 25 mm
Obverse: The bust of the Mother of God, facial, nimbate, with infant Jesus Christ on her left hand, also nimbate, facial and blessing, all within dotted border. The usual inscription Μ(ΗΤΗ)Ρ- Θ(ΕΟ)[Υ] (Mother of God).
Reverse: Inscription in 7 lines within a dotted border: +Κ(ΥΡΙ)Ε ΒΟΗ/[Θ]ΕΙ ΜΙΧΑ(ΗΛ) Π(ΑΤ)ΡΙ(ΚΙΩ)/[Κ]ΑΙ ΜΕΓΑΛΩ/ΚΟΥΡΑΤΩΡΙ Τ(ΩΝ)/ΟΞΕΩΝ ΤΩ/ΜΩCΗ ΔΕ ΔΟΥΛΩ(?)= Κύριε βοήθει Μιχαὴλ πατρικίῳ καὶ μεγάλῳ κουράτωρι τῶν Ὀξέων, τῷ Μωσῇ δὲ δούλῳ (Lord, help Michael patrikius and great kourator of the Oxeon, and servant of Moses [the prophet]).
For the high dignity of kourator and kouratoreia in byzantine empire see: Kazdan et alii, Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, II, pp. 1155-1156.
Condition: Very Fine, Slightly off-center sealing nevertheless completely legible inscription.
Weight: 11.23 gr
Diameter: 25 mm