Byzantin Bronze Poids - 3 cm (Sans prix de réserve)

Rare Byzantine Bronze Weight - Silver Inlaid Faces - Two Sacred Figures

Material: Bronze
Decoration: Silver inlaid faces
Weight: 47.35 g
Dimensions: 3 x 3 cm
Period: Byzantine Period (c. 6th-8th centuries AD)

A rare, exquisitely crafted, square bronze weight from the Byzantine period, this is a fine example of the official economic and commercial weights used throughout the Byzantine Empire.

The weight's face depicts two haloed busts, carved in relief within a dotted circular border. The details of the faces are enhanced by silver inlay, a sophisticated decorative technique used to highlight important figures and elevate the object's status.

The artistic style is distinctly Byzantine, evident in the treatment of the faces, clothing, and halos, reflecting the strong religious influence that characterized Byzantine art.

Below the portraits appear the letters N and PI, generally interpreted as abbreviations of the names or titles of the figures depicted.

The drawings and inscriptions.

Left drawing:

Nikiforos II Phocas
Byzantine emperor, reigned 963–969 AD.

Letter below the drawing:

N = Abbreviation for Nikiforos.

Right drawing:

John I Tzimiskes
Byzantine emperor, reigned 969–976 AD.

Letters below the figure:
PI = Possible abbreviation associated with the emperor's name or title, according to some interpretations.

General interpretation:

These letters are believed to represent the names of the two emperors depicted on the weight, suggesting that this object may have been used as an official standard of weight during their reigns.

Acquired in 2025 from Demeter Coins Falk Zünkler in Germany.
Provenance: The piece was formerly part of a private collection in Spain, having been acquired in 1987 from an antiquities dealer or gallery.
This rare piece is accompanied by the original purchase invoice and a certificate of authenticity.