Imperial seal of Basil II and Constantine VIII (976-1025). A rare piece!

Description

Imperial seal of
Basil II and Constantine VIII (976-1025)
.
Rarest and of historical importance!
Obv.:
Half-length representation of
Jesus
Christ
, nimbate
each crossarm
of
nimbus cruciger is decorated with
5
pellets
),
wearing a tunic and himation and holding a book in the left hand
, sigla IC-XC (Jesus Christ),
circular i
nscription visible at left
,
ΕΜΜΑ
-[
ΝΟΥΗΛ
] (Emmanouel), dotted border
.
Rev.: Two facial imperial busts: at left
representation of Basil II bearded, wearing a crown with a cross and pendilia and a loros; and at right a representation of Constantine VIII. He is shown half-length wearing a crown with a cross and pendilia and a chlamys. They hold between them a long patriarchal cross. Circular inscription
, partly present,
Basil(ios) c(e) Cons[tanti(nos) b(asilis) R(omaion)]
(
Basil and Constantine,
kings
of the Romans
),
b
order of dots.
28 mm; 21.40 gr.
Condition: Earthen deposits, some scuffs on reverse, otherwise about Very Fine/Fine. Uncleaned with nice natural patina.
Notes: Parallel seals:
DO Seals
6, no. 69.12
;
BZS.1958.106.579 and BZS.1955.1.4310
which
are not, however, from the same boulloterion.
Constantine VIII is almost of equal size with Basil. Cf. Likhachev,
Molivdovuly,
pl. LXXVI, no. 12, for a seal on which one sees in the circular inscription on the reverse the use of the abbreviation c(e) and a depiction of Constantine as virtually the same height as Basil.
A nice piece, with historical importance, acquired in a European auction.
Please check well photos for condition!
No reserve, no returns!
PLEASE NOTE:
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