★ An impressive and rare imperial seal! ★

Herakleios, Herakleios Constantine and Heraklonas lead seal
(638-641).

Obverse: The Mother of God standing facial, nimbate, wearing maphorion and chiton, holding Christ as child before her, a cross in either side in the field, all within wreath border.

Reverse: Three emperors standing facial: in center, Herakleios, bearded; at left, Heraklonas, beardless; and at right, Herakleios Constantine, beardless. Each figure wears a crown with a cross and a chlamys and holds a globus cruciger in his right hand, no inscription, all within wreath border.

Commentary: Dating seals depicting Heraklonas on which he is fairly short depends upon whether the crown represents his rank of augustus, attained in July of 638. This entry follows Zacos and Veglery in affirming this chronology, whereas Morrisson, who does not believe that Heraklonas's small crown is indicative of his status as an augustus, suggests a date between 1 January 632 and 7 April 638.
Bibliography: DO Seals 6, no. 17.1b; Zacos–Veglery, no. 14b. Illustrated and discussed in Morrisson, “Du consul à l’empereur,” 259, table 1, and 264, no. 8.

Condition: Very Fine

Weight: 19.3 gr
Diameter: 26 mm