Nomos AG
Auction 24 22 May 2022
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Sisinnios, magistros, Circa 10th century. Tessera (Bronze, 21 mm, 4.41 g, 12 h), a. CICI-NNIΩ / ΜΑΓΙ/CTPΩ around cruciform invocation monogram = Κ - ΥΡ - ΕΙ - Β (Lord help the Magistrate Sisinnios). Rev. CICI-NNIΩ / ΜΑΓΙ/CTPΩ around cruciform invocation monogram = Κ - ΥΡ - ΕΙ - Β. BZS.1951.31.5.2964 (same dies). Extremely rare and unusual, and the best known example. Very fine.
Although the design on both sides is typical for seals, the absence of the channel, the material, and the fact that it is struck, makes it clear that it is a bronze private tessera or a token, which is really rare for the Byzantine period, especially in bronze. Precisely who the Magistrate Sisinnios was is uncertain; we have a number of seals in the name of a Sisinnios: a 7th/8th century Apo Eparchon, an 8th century Hypatos and and 8th/9th century Imperial Pistikos, but it is unlikely that any of these can be related to our piece. There was a Magistros of the late 7th and earlier 8th century named Sisinnios, but he was also a Patrikios and a Komes ton Excubiton (he was the grandfather of the Patriarch Tarasios 784-806); but he too was unlikely to be the author of this tessera.
Although the design on both sides is typical for seals, the absence of the channel, the material, and the fact that it is struck, makes it clear that it is a bronze private tessera or a token, which is really rare for the Byzantine period, especially in bronze. Precisely who the Magistrate Sisinnios was is uncertain; we have a number of seals in the name of a Sisinnios: a 7th/8th century Apo Eparchon, an 8th century Hypatos and and 8th/9th century Imperial Pistikos, but it is unlikely that any of these can be related to our piece. There was a Magistros of the late 7th and earlier 8th century named Sisinnios, but he was also a Patrikios and a Komes ton Excubiton (he was the grandfather of the Patriarch Tarasios 784-806); but he too was unlikely to be the author of this tessera.