PB seal of Nikephoros Melissenos (late 1080–early 1081)
Obv: Original strike: Christ seated on a square-backed throne wearing a chiton and himation, raising his right hand in blessing and holding a book in his left. He has a nimbus cruciger. Sigla invisible.
Overstrike: Bust of the Mother of God orans, the medallion of Christ before her. Sigla invisible.
Rev: Original strike: Nikephoros Melissenos standing; wearing a crown with pendilia and a loros. He holds in his right hand a labarum and in his left a globus cruciger. Remains of a circular inscription visible at right: [Νικηφόρος δεσπότ(ης) Ῥωμαίων] ὁ Μελισσην[ό(ς)]. Border of dots.
Overstrike: Inscription of five lines.
A nice overstruck seal. For discussion of overstruck seals, see Koltsida-Makre, “Overstruck Lead Seals,” 55-60 and Nesbitt, “Overstruck Seals,” 67-94.
Condition: Very Fine.
Weight: 33.95 g.
Diameter: 40.40 mm.