BYZANTINE SEALS. Monastery of Alexios Studites, circa 1025-1043. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 25.0 mm, 8.65 g, 12 h), Constantinople. ΘΚΕ ΒΘ ΤΩ CΩ ΔΟΥ[ΛΟ] Half-length bust of the Mother of God holding Christ in her left arm. Christ holds a scroll in his left hand, and his right hand is supported in a sling formed by his robe. Rev. +ΦΥΛΑ / ΤΤΕ CΗΝ / ΜΟΝΗΝ / ΑΛΕΞ IOY / [KOPH] ( Virgin guard your monastery of Alexios ) in five lines within simple dotted border. DO 5, 38.1. Laurent 5.3,. 1897. Obolos 21, (2022) lot 1006. A rare and interesting seal, struck on a broad flan. Very fine.

Regardless its relatively small size, this seal bears a huge importance as it was used for letters that were sent by the monastery that was established by the Patriarch Alexios Studites in the Bosporos coast. Unfortunately its exact location is not known today, and its existence was documented only from written sources and, of course, from extremely rare seals as the one offered here.