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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Byzantine Coins| ▸ |Byzantine Seals||View Options:   | | | During the Byzantine period, lead bullae (singular, Bulla) were widely used to seal and identify the sender of correspondence and containers in shipment. An iron, pliers-shaped instrument, a boulloterion, was used to impress the designs on a lead bulla seal. After the cord was wrapped around the package or document and the ends inserted in a channel in the blank seal, the seal was placed between the disc shaped engraved dies on the jaws of a boulloterion. The boulloterion had a projection above the jaws, which was struck with a hammer to impress the design on the seal and close the channel around the two ends of the cord. With a bulla in place a container cannot be violated without visible damage to either the bulla or the cord, ensuring the contents remain tamper-proof until they reach their destination. |
The obverse seal depicts Gabriel announcing the birth of Jesus to the Virgin. The episode was known to the Byzantines as the "Chairetismos." The inscriptions are not legible but a similar type has the obverse inscription: XAIPE KAIXAPITWMNH O KC META (Greetings, you who are highly favored! the Lord is with you).BZ97902. Lead seal, unpublished in references held by Forum; see Cotsonis for a list of 54 Byzantine seals of The Annunciation, VF/F, a remarkable large seal with very large high relief figures, weight 39.740 g, maximum diameter 38.3 mm, c. 11th - 12th century A.D.; obverse The Annunciation: the Virgin standing facing on the right, nimbate and raising her right hand with the palm turned outwards; the angel Gabriel on the left, nimbate, advancing towards the Virgin, raising his right hand, scepter in his left hand; reverse inscriptions in 7 lines; Byzantine seals depicting The Annunciation are very rare; SOLD
Byzantine, 11th - 12th Century A.D.
BZ92112. Lead seal, Uncertain, aVF, tan surfaces, modified seal cut in the shape of a fish, the cutting, however, obscures much of the reverse inscription, obverse The Theotokos (Virgin Mary) standing facing, orans, MP - ΘV (Greek abbr.: MΗTΗP ΘΕOY - Mother of God) flanking across field; reverse Inscription; ex CNG e-auction 233 (26 May 2010), lot 571 (realized $390 plus fees); SOLD
Byzantine Lead Bulla Seal, Sergios Mesopotamites, Late 11th - Early 12th Century
The first part of the inscription reads "Graphas sphragizo kai logous" - "I seal the writings and words of..." The last lines read the well-known family name "Mesopotamites," with eta for iota. The personal name is most likely Sergios, with one C shared by both logous and Sergios.
The Mesopotamitai were a prominent Byzantine family in the late 12th and early 13th century. They originated either from Mesopotamos (in modern Albania) or some place called Mesopotamia. Sergios was likely related to Constantine Mesopotamite, the de facto chief minister under emperors Isaac II Angelos and Alexius III Angelos (1193 - summer 1197) and the archbishop of Thessalonica (c. 1197 - 1227, but in exile 1204 - 1224, when the city was occupied by Latin Crusaders).AS63897. Lead bulla (tag seal), unpublished in references examined by Forum; DOCBS -, Zacos BLS -, Zacos -, Jordanov -, gVF, high relief, attractive patina, weight 4.861 g, maximum diameter 16.0 mm, die axis 0o, obverse facing bust of the Virgin Orans, nimbate, wearing pallium and maphorium, MP - ΘV (Greek abbreviation: Μητηρ Θεου; - Mother of God) across field; reverse ΓPA(phas) / CΦPAΓI(zo) / S ΛOΓOU(c) CE[P]/ΓIOTOU M[E]/COΠOTA/MHTOU (S abbreviates KAI and the OU's are ligate); SOLD
Jewish, Lead Menorah Bulla Seal, 7 Branched Menorah on Each Side, c. 6th - 10th Century A.D.
A bulla (plural, bullae), is a lump of clay or lead molded around a cord and stamped with a seal that identifies the sender. With a bulla in place a container cannot be violated without visible damage to either the bulla or the cord, thereby ensuring the contents remain tamper-proof until they reach their destination.JD34522. Menorah bulla seal, weight 11.1 g, maximum diameter 16.9 mm, 8.9 mm thick; rare; SOLD
Byzantine Lead Bulla Seal, John Melek, 12th - 13th Century A.D.
A number of Byzantine dignitaries in 13th and 14th centuries shared the patronym Melek but they probably were not all from the same family. The name is foreign and perhaps derived from the Seljuk name malik, meaning prince. Presumably John Melek was a Seljuk prince who converted, was baptized adopting the name John, and served the Empire.
The office and title of the owner is not included in the inscription, which during the period, was a common practice of the representatives of noble ruling families.
The owner of the seal might be a certain John Melek associated with the stay of the army headed by Emperor Manuel I Komnenos in Beroe in 1155/1156.
A 13th century possiblity, is that the owner was one of the sons of the sultan Izedin, who after their father escaped captivity, were baptized and served in army of the Empire with the patronym Melek.
SH58238. Lead bulla (tag seal), Jordanov 456 (Historical Museum, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, no. 10 C3-11, found in the town); DOCBS -, Choice, near complete imprint, weight 17.593 g, maximum diameter 26.9 mm, obverse half-length figure of Virgin Orans standing facing, nimbate, hands raised, medallion of the infant Christ on breast, MP - ΘV (Greek abbreviation: Μητηρ Θεου; - Mother of God) across field; reverse IWANHN / CKEΠOIC ME / MEΛHK / KOPH in four lines across field; large, high-relief seal; SOLD
Constantine the Great, Early 307 - 22 May 337 A.D., Imperial Lead Bulla Seal
AS38022. Lead bulla (tag seal), Boersema-Dalzell 134, VF, weight 16.211 g, maximum diameter 19.8 mm, obverse laureate and draped bust of Constantine the Great right; reverse chestnut shaped; SOLD
Theodosius I, 19 January 379 - 17 January 395 A.D.
This type of lead conical bulla seal is commonly attributed to Theodosius I with his sons, Arcadius and Honorius. While the attribution is not certain, there is reason behind it. The form is correct for the period and the type is very common for a seal. Forum has handled a few examples and there are at least four on Coin Archives. The large number of specimens supports attribution to the emperor, in whose name there was a lot of correspondence. Theodosius and his two sons are the best imperial fit for these three facing busts.AS89555. Lead bulla (tag seal), conical type, commonly attributed to Theodosius I and his sons Arcadius and Honorius, VF, gray and buff surfaces, weight 9.316 g, maximum diameter 18.0 mm, obverse three bare-headed and draped busts facing, center bust larger, two flanking busts smaller; reverse domed back, pierced for the cord; ex CNG e-auction 233 (26 May 2010), lot 504; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Lead Bulla Seal, c. 5th - 12th Century
During the late Roman and Byzantine periods, lead bullae (singular, Bulla) were widely used to seal and identify the sender of correspondence and containers in shipment. An iron, pliers-shaped instrument, a boulloterion, was used to impress the designs on a lead bulla seal. After the cord was wrapped around the package or document and the ends inserted in a channel in the blank seal, the seal was placed between the disk shaped engraved dies on the jaws of a boulloterion. The boulloterion had a projection above the jaws, which was struck with a hammer to impress the design on the seal and close the channel around the two ends of the cord. With a bulla in place a container cannot be violated without visible damage to either the bulla or the cord, ensuring the contents remain tamper-proof until they reach their destination.BZ93559. Lead bulla (tag seal), gVF, earthen deposits, weight 6.172 g, maximum diameter 27.9 mm, die axis 0o, c. 5th - 12th century; obverse IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Jesus Christ), nimbate bust of Christ facing; reverse six line Greek inscription; from the Errett Bishop Collection; SOLD
Byzantine Empire, Lead Bulla Seal, Saint George, Leon Protospatharios epi tou Chrysotriklinou, c. 11th Century A.D.
The reverse reads Leon, protospatharios epi tou Chrysotriklinou, probably followed by his family name Sa...as. The title protospatharios was one of the highest court dignities of the middle Byzantine period (8th to 12th centuries) and also meant entry into the Byzantine Senate. The court dignity is heavily abbreviated. Epi t(ou) Chr(yso)(tri)kl(inou). Chryso (gold) is abbreviated with XP, which shows that the "Christogram" even in Christian times does not always refer to Christ. Tri is given by gamma, the Greek numeral 3. The dignity refers to the Golden Hall (Chrysotriklinos) in the imperial palace.BZ99069. Lead bulla (tag seal), DOCBS -, Zacos -, Metcalf Seals -, Jordanov -, Spink Zacos -, light brown patina, crack on reverse, weight 11.861 g, maximum diameter 27.3 mm, die axis 0o, c. 11th century A.D.; obverse bust of St. Theodore facing, nimbate, draped, long pointed beard, spear in his right hand over his right shoulder, shield on left arm, Θ / Θ/E-O/Δ/O in columns left and right; reverse [Λ]EON / ACΠAΘP / EΠI T XPΓ/KΛINO CA/[...]AC in four lines; SOLD
Late Roman or Byzantine Lead Token, c. 5th - 11th Century
The legend on this piece, H XAPIC EIMI, translates literally to "I am a grace." In this context, XAPIC (grace) should probably be translated as a favor, thanks, or an offering.BZ53321. Lead token, VF, weight 10.618 g, maximum diameter 31.2 mm, obverse H XA/PIC EI/MI, retrograde inscription in three lines; a very interesting and large piece!; SOLD
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