Nomos 38

BYZANTINE SEALS, The Ekdikoi of Hagia Sophia. Late Palaeologian - 14th century. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 48 mm, 63.60 g, 12 h). IOY/CTI/N/IA/N/O/N Δ/EC/Π ( = 'Lord Justinian'on the left) H A/ΓIA / CO/ΦIA (= 'The Haghia Sophia' in the field at the center) MHP / ΘV / H / B/OH/ΘI/A (= 'Mother of God, She who Aids us' on the right) On the left, Justinian standing facing, wearing a crown with pendilia, divitision, and loros, holding a cross in his right hand, which he places on his breast, and holding out his left hand, bearing a model of the Haghia Sophia, to the nimbate and draped figure of the Virgin Mary, standing facing on the right, who receives the model from Justinian with both her hands; the church's royal door is open, allowing the cross on the holy table within to be seen. Rev. + TOIC ΘE/OCEBECTATOIC / ΠPECBVTEPOIC / KAI EKKΛHC/EKΔIKOIC (' [This is a seal] for the most venerable presbyters and ekdikoi of the church') in five lines. Geneva 272 = Zacos II 75b (struck from the same boulloterion). Very rare. Nicely centered and quite clear. Some areas of roughness and minor damage, otherwise, good very fine.

From an important collection of Byzantine seals.