A rarest, important and highly impressive imperial seal
of Romanos I, Constantine VII and Stephen (AD 931-944)

(Lead, 16.38 gr, 33.50 mm, 12h). Condition: Slightly off-centre upwards and cracked along the channel in either side, otherwise Fine plus/Very Fine. Uncleaned with a nice natural cream patina.
Obv.: Facial bust of Jesus Christ, nimbate, lightly bearded, wearing a tunic and himation, his right hand raised in blessing, holding the Book of Gospels with a richly ornamented cover in his left hand, circular inscription, IhSuSX-RiSTuS (Jesus Christ), dotted border.
Rev.: Three facial imperial busts: At center, Romanos I, with a long, parted beard, wearing a cross-topped crown with a jeweled band and a loros, and holding a globus in his right hand. At left,Constantine VII, beardless and smaller than Romanos, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a loros; and at right. Stephen, beardless and smaller than Romanos, wearing a crown surmounted by a cross and a loros. Circular inscription, ROmAn·COnStAnt·CESt·b·R· = Roman(os), Constant(inos) ce St(ephanos) b(asilis) R(omaion) (Romanos, Constantine, and Stephen, basileis of the Romans.), dotted border.
Parallel: Cf. DO Seals 6, no. 62.1; Zacos–Veglery, no. 68a.