★ RARE ★

PB Byzantine lead seal. Seal of Philaretos metropolitan of Euchaita. (10th century).
Obv: Bust of St. Theodore holding a martyr's cross before him in his right hand. Circular inscription: …….Δ̣ΩΡΕΡΟΗΘ, : [Ἅγιε Θεό]δωρε βοήθ(ει). Border of dots.
Rev: Inscription of five lines, beginning with a cross: ΦΙΛΑ|ΡΕΤΩΜΗ|ΤΡΟΠΟΛΙ|ΤΗΕΥΧ|ΑΙΤΟΝ : Φιλαρέτῳ μητροπολίτῃ Εὐχαΐτον. Border of dots.
A Philaretos of Euchaita (in Helenopontus, the Armeniac Theme) was synkellos by the middle of the tenth century (Darrouzès, Épistoliers, 73; cf. Zacos, Seals II, no. 874). He is identical to the owner of the present seal. DO Seals 4, no. 16.5b; Laurent, Corpus V/2, no. 1592.
Condition: VF.
Weight: 4.87 g.
Diameter: 22 mm.