★ A Rare and Artistically Interesting Medallion ★

Byzantine AR Medallion. Circa 10th-11th century AD. Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator; HC-XC across upper fields / Blank. For similar depictions, cf. DOC Byzantine and Mediaeval Antiques II, Medallion 198 and Constantine VII Solidus DOC III 576 (AD 959-963). 3.59g, 35mm.

Extremely Fine; with gold and niello inlay work. Extremely rare and of considerable artistic interest.

The Greek term ‘Pantokrator’ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew title El Shaddai, derived from one of many names of God in Judaism meaning ‘all powerful’. As an icon, Christ Pantokrator became the most common religious image of Orthodox Christianity, and plaques such as the present piece were typically placed at the centre of richly-ornamented book bindings, crowns or crosses.