★ A rare beautiful piece! Pegonites! A parallel in Aydin ★
Byzantine lead seal of Leon Ligokoites (11th cent.).
Obv.: Bust of martyr Theodore the Tiron, facial, nimbate, holding spear and shield, sigla, Ο ΑΓΙΟCΘΕΟ(ΔΩΡΟC)-O ΤΗΡΩΝ (Saint Theodore Tiron), all within dotted border.
Rev.: Inscription in 5 lines, ΤΗΡΩΝ/CΚΕΠΟΙC/ΛΕΟΝΤΑ/ΤΟΝΛΙΓΟ/ΚΙΤΗΝ = Τήρων σκέποις Λέοντα τὸν Λιγοκοίτην ([martyr Theodore] Tiron protect Leon the Ligokoites), all within dotted border.
The inscription on rev. is in iambic verse of 12 syllables. The surname Ligokoites most probably derives form the Greek ὀλίγον+κοίτη, that is the one who only little sleeps on his bed.
Condition: Very Fine
Weight: 8.70 gr
Diameter: 22 mm