★ The imperial kommerkia of the strategia of Anatolikon ★

The imperial kommerkia of the strategia of Anatolikon (?), dated indiction 10, 756/757. Seal (Lead, 33 mm, 26.36 g, 12 h). Busts of Constatine V, on the left, and Leo IV, on the right, facing, each wearing crown with cross and chlamys; above, cross. Rev. Indiction sign in upper left field and indiction year Ι in upper right field; below horizontal line, TⲰN BA' KOMM/ЄPKI, T, / CTPA[T]/HΓ, TⲰN.../... in four lines; above, bust of Leo III, wearing loros and holding a large cross. Unpublished in the standard references. Flatness in the lower parts of the reverse, otherwise, very fine.

Ex Papillon E-Auction 6, 7 May 2021, 445.

The splendid portraits on the obverse of this seal of the imperial kommerkia bear a striking resemblance to the early solidi of Constantine IV, with a smaller bust of Leo IV. These are dated in DOC to 751-circa 757 (cf. DOC 2b). Our seal, which is dated to the 10th indiction, must therefore most likely date to the year 757/758. Seibt/Zarnitz published a seal with similar portraits, but with Leo IV having the same hairstyle as his father. This seal, mentioning the 12th indiction, is dated to 758/759 by the editors. It belongs to the imperial kommerkia of Anatolikon and our seal may well belong to that same theme.