Roma Numismatics Ltd
Islamic, Medieval and World Sale 3 17 Mar 2023
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Eastern Europe (Bulgaria or Romania?) PB Theriac Capsule Seal. Circa 17th - 18th century. Design derived from the seals produced by the Alla testa d'oro pharmacy in Venice. Blundered legend, laureate and draped male head to right; uncertain symbol (small winged lion?) before / Blank. G. Custurea, Două Noi Capace de Teriac Descoperite Pe Teritoriul Dobrogei in Pontica LII Supplementum VI (Constanța, 2019), pp. 431-443, fig. 2 (found at Plopeni, Romania); cf. U. Klein. "Von Paradies zu Paradies: Theriak und Theriak-Kapseln" in SM 218 (June 2005), pp. 38-41, figs. 3, 9 & 11; CNG E-344, 607. 26.24g, 39mm.
Condition as seen.
From a private UK collection.
Theriac, described by Klein as a 'wonder drug', was an all purpose medicinal product originating as far back as the Hellenistic period. The centre for sale of this product was Venice, from where it was exported all over the world. Its composition, made up of opium, spices and snake flesh, amongst other ingredients, was a closely guarded secret, making it all the more desirable. The capsule seals were made exclusively of lead or lead alloy and stamped with the symbol of the pharmacy as a guarantee of the authentic nature of the product. This did not prevent counterfeit products purporting to be from the well established pharmacies in Venice, many of which have been found in the Balkans (see Custurea in references).
Condition as seen.
From a private UK collection.
Theriac, described by Klein as a 'wonder drug', was an all purpose medicinal product originating as far back as the Hellenistic period. The centre for sale of this product was Venice, from where it was exported all over the world. Its composition, made up of opium, spices and snake flesh, amongst other ingredients, was a closely guarded secret, making it all the more desirable. The capsule seals were made exclusively of lead or lead alloy and stamped with the symbol of the pharmacy as a guarantee of the authentic nature of the product. This did not prevent counterfeit products purporting to be from the well established pharmacies in Venice, many of which have been found in the Balkans (see Custurea in references).