PB seal of Demetrios, spatharios and protokentarchos of the Opsikion (middle of the 11th century)
Obv: Inscription of four lines: Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δού(λῳ) Διμητρί(ῳ). Decoration above and below. Border of dots.
Rev: Inscription of four lines: σπαθαρ(ίῳ) (καὶ) πρωτοκεντάρχ(ῳ) τοῦ Ὀψικ(ί)ου. Decoration above and below. Border of dots.
Translation: Lord aid your servant Demetrios, spatharios and protokentarchos of the Opsikion.

Protokentarchos was a high naval officer and the head of kentarchoi (commander of one hundred men). It signifies the commander of a warship or dromon (Listes, 341). The designation "protokentarchos" does not appear in the taktika although it certainly was in existence around 900, as shown by seals (list in Laurent, Orghidan, no. 220; cf. Zacos, Seals II, no. 673). The protokentarchoi appear regularly as subordinates of the provincial strategoi or doukes in eleventh-century archival documents. Demetrios, who served as a protokentarchos in the theme of Opsikion, is known for the first time with our seal.

Condition: Extremely Fine.
Weight: 9.01 g.
Diameter: 25.80 mm.