Nomos AG
Auction 25 20 Nov 2022
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BYZANTINE SEALS, Imperial. Justin I and Justinian I (?), 527. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 22 mm, 13.41 g, 12 h). DD NN A - AVGGG Two crowned and draped male busts facing; between their heads, cross. Rev. VICTOR - IA AVG Victory moving to right, her head turned to left, her torso facing front and both hands raised, holding a wreath. Apparently unpublished, save for a piece from the same dies from the Robert E. Hecht Collection, Triton XI, 2008, 1116 = Gorny & Mosch 152, 2006, 2678. An attractive and rare seal. Usual marks and flatnesses, otherwise, good very fine.
The attribution of this seal to the very short joint reign of Justin I with Justinian I was taken from the GoMo catalogue, which contained first known example of this seal. However, while that identification is followed here, the portraits actually look earlier and almost certainly date to the mid 5th century: could they be late Theodosian?
The attribution of this seal to the very short joint reign of Justin I with Justinian I was taken from the GoMo catalogue, which contained first known example of this seal. However, while that identification is followed here, the portraits actually look earlier and almost certainly date to the mid 5th century: could they be late Theodosian?