★ A splendid portrait of St. Nicholas ★

Niketas, protospatharios and pronoetes, middle 11th century. Seal (Lead, 22 mm, 9.38 g, 12 h). Θ / N/I-K/O/Λ, Nimbate facing bust of Saint Nicholas, raising his right hand in benediction and holding a book of Gospels in his left hand . Rev. +KЄ R,Θ, / TⲰ CⲰ Δ, / NIKHTA A’/CΠAΘ, S A’/NOHT in five lines. Unpublished in the standard references. A nicely preserved seal with a splendid portrait of St. Nicholas. Nearly extremely fine.

From an important collection of Roman and Byzantine seals, tesserae and amulets, formed before 2021.

The office of pronoetes denoted estate supervisors. In the provinces, they were officials with fiscal or administrative duties.