★ A massive early Byzantine seal belonging to high-ranking court official ★

Johannes, imperial protostrator and komes of the imperial stables, 8th century. Seal (Lead, 34 mm, 32.23 g, 12 h). Cirular legend TⲰ Δ૪ΛⲰ C૪ IⲰANNH RACIΛIKⲰ; large cruciform monogram ΘЄOTOKЄ BOHΘЄI ('Mother of God, help your servant Johannes, imperial'). Rev. +ΠPⲰ/TOCTPAT/ⲰPI S KOMITI / TⲰN BACIΛI/KⲰN CTAB/ΛⲰN+ ('protostrator and komes of the imperial stables") in six lines. Unpublished in the standard references. A massive early Byzantine seal belonging to high-ranking court official. Good very fine.

From a European collection, formed before 2005.