Watch List notes:

BYZANTINE SEALS, Imperial. Phocas, 602-610. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 26 mm, 18.37 g, 12 h), Constantinople, c. 602-607. The Virgin, nimbate and wearing a chiton and maphorion, enrobed, standing facing, holding the infant Christ before her; to left and right, a large cross potent with an elongated shaft. Rev. O N FOCAS PERP AVI Crowned, draped and cuirassed bust of Phocas facing, holding globus cruciger in his right hand. DOC Seals 6, 10. Zacos 8a (same boulloterion). Rare early seal depicting a more "pius" version of the emperor. Slight roughness, otherwise, very fine.


Admittedly despised by many, not only for his actions when he came into power but also because of Heraclian propaganda, Phocas, was the first Byzantine emperor to use lead seals on a large scale for the administration of the empire.