Bysantisk Bly Blyförsegling - 30 mm

Extremely Rare Byzantine Lead Seal of Michael Saronites

Object: Byzantine Lead Seal / Bulla
Period: Byzantine Empire, Medieval Period
Material: Lead
Weight: 46.25 g
Diameter: 30 mm
Reference: DO Seals 1, no. 1.20a
Accession Number: BZS.1951.31.5.498
Period: Byzantine Empire, 11th century AD (c. 1050–1100 AD)

Obverse

Saint Michael standing and holding a sceptre and globus. Faint traces of the inscription M-X: M(I)X(AHΛ) can be seen. The design is surrounded by a border of dots.

Reverse

A six-line Greek inscription, preceded by a cross and surrounded by a dotted border.

Inscription:

Κ(ύρι)[ε] β(οή)θ(ει) Μιχ(αήλ)
μ[α]γίστρω (καὶ) δουκὶ πάσης
Δύσεω[ς] τῷ Σαρ(ω)νίτη.

Translation:
“Lord, help Michael Saronites, magistros and doux of all the West.”

Historical Significance

An EXTREMELY RARE Byzantine seal associated with Michael Saronites, bearing the prestigious titles Magistros and Doux of all the West.

The Dumbarton Oaks catalogue discusses the possible identification of the owner as Michael Saronites, who may have held the position of Katepano of Bulgaria before subsequently acquiring the titles recorded on the seal. The catalogue also considers the possibility that he may have been the same Saronites associated with the suppression of the revolt of Constantine Bodin in 1072.

The seal is recorded in the scholarly corpus of Byzantine seals as DO Seals 1, no. 1.20a, making it a particularly important piece for the study of Byzantine military and administrative history.

Bibliography

Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea.

Acquired in 2025 from NUMIMANICA PRADOS, Spain, at the Madrid Numismatic Fair held on 27 June 2025.

Provenance:

Acquired in 2025 from NUMIMANICA PRADOS, Spain, at the Madrid Numismatic Fair held on 27 June 2025.

Provenance:
The piece was previously part of a private collection in Spain, where it had been acquired from an art gallery in 1987.

This rare piece is accompanied by the original purchase invoice, Certificate of Authenticity, and Spanish Export Certificate.