Leu Numismatik AG
Web Auction 17 14-16 Aug 2021
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BYZANTINE. Seal (?) (Lead, 17 mm, 3.92 g, 2 h), Michael, spatharokandidatos, 8th-9th centuries. [...]ΛI૪BAC/OBCΠAΘA/POICAHΔ/IΛA... engraved retrograde in five lines. Rev. KE / BOIΘI / [T]ON Δ૪ C૪ / MIXAIΛ C/AΘAPO/AΔIΔ engraved retrograde in six lines. Very fine.
One side of this intriguing object seems to have a nonsensical inscription, reminiscent of objects inscribed with magical incantations. The other side, however, names Michael, who was a spatharokandidatos, with an invocation of the Lord to help him. Implied in the retrograde inscription is an intended use for sealing, maybe as part of a stamp seal. In any case, the closed beta (B, not R) indicates a date before the 10th century.
One side of this intriguing object seems to have a nonsensical inscription, reminiscent of objects inscribed with magical incantations. The other side, however, names Michael, who was a spatharokandidatos, with an invocation of the Lord to help him. Implied in the retrograde inscription is an intended use for sealing, maybe as part of a stamp seal. In any case, the closed beta (B, not R) indicates a date before the 10th century.