Watch List notes:

BYZANTINE SEALS, Provincial Administration. George Drosos, patrikios, anthypatos, krites epi tou ippodromou of Chaldia and Derzene, 1048-1071. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 32.5 mm, 21.89 g, 12 h), Trapezunt. +ΘΚΕ ΒΟΗΘΕΙ /MHP - ΘOY (Mother of God protect ) The Virgin Mary, of the Panagia Dexia type, robed, veiled and nimbate, standing facing, turned slightly to the left, holding the infant Christ on her right arm. Rev. -✶- / ΓΕΩΡΓΙS/ ΠΡΙ ΑΝΘΥΠΑΤ/ ΚΡΙΤ ΕΠΙ Τ ΙΠ/ΔPΜ XΑΛΔΙΑ/Σ ΔΡΕZΗ ΤΩ ΔΡO /-✶- in eight lines within round dotted border flanked by two linear borders. Schlumberger, 1894, p. 319-336 n.105. An extremely rare seal, only the second known example to appear since the first which was published in 1894. Pressed slightly off-centre, otherwise, good very fine.


According to Skylitzes, in 1048, Georgios Drosos, who was the former secretary of Aaron, doux of Ani and Iberia (see DO Seals 4, no. 75.1.), was entrusted by Constantine IX Monomachus with an eventually successful diplomatic mission to the Seljuk ruller, Toghrul. This seal is certainly dated after this fact, but equally certainly before the battle of Manzikert in 1071 and the loss of the Byzantine eastern provinces.