★ Imperial lead seal of Constantinos Doukas (1059-1067). An interesting historically rare seal! ★

Imperial lead seal of
Constantinos Doukas (1059-1067).
An interesting historically rare seal!
Obverse: Christ Emmanuel seated on a lyre-backed throne, wearing a tunic and himation with the right hand in blessing gesture and holding in his left the book of Gospels. Sigla IC-.C = Ἰ(ησοῦ)ς Χ(ριστό)ς (Jesus Christ), circular inscription in either side, ΕΜΜΑ-ΝΟΥΗΛ = Ἐμμανουὴλ (Emmanuel), all within dotted border.
Reverse: The emperor Constantine . standing facial, wearing a loros and holding the right hand before his chest and a globus cruciger in the left hand; at right, the Mother of God standing facial, wearing a chiton and maphorion, the right hand uplifted and touching the emperor’s crown in blessing. She seems to be holding a bust of Christ on her right arm, sigla in either side of her, M(ΗΤΗΡ)-Θ(ΕΟΥ) = Μήτηρ Θεοῦ (Mother of God), circular inscription, ΚΩΝ(CΤΑΝΤΙΝΟC) RAC,Λ(ΕΥC) - Ο ΔΟΥΚΑC = Kων(σταντῖνος) βασ(ι)λ(εὺς) ὁ Δούκας (Constantine king the Doukas), all within dotted border.
Parallel seals with bibliography: Dumbarton Oaks Seals 6, no. 78.1; no. 78.2; no. 78.3; no. 78.5.
Note: Constantine . Doukas or Dukas, Latinised as Ducas (Greek: Κωνσταντῖνος Ι΄ Δούκας, Kōnstantinos . Doukas, 1006 – 22 May 1067) was Byzantine Emperor from 1059 to 1067. He was the founder and first ruling member of the short-lived Doukid dynasty. During his reign, the Normans took over much of the remaining Byzantine territories in Italy while in the Balkans the Hungarians occupied Belgrade. He also suffered defeats against the Seljuk sultan Alp Arslan (vd. Kazdan et alii, O.ford Dictionary of Byzantium, I, pp. 504-505).

Weight: 20,6 gr
Diameter:32 mm