Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1123. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $550. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Zacharias. Imperial spatharios, 7th century. PB Seal (27mm, 17.09 g, 12h). Eagle standing facing, head right, wings spread; QEOTOKE BOHQEI in cruciform monogram above / [...]ZA/XARIA B/ACHLHK/(OY) CPAQ/ARHw in five lines; all within wreath. Cf. BLS I 722 (for similar seal of Zacharias, hypatos); DOCBS -; Seyrig -; Vatican -; Orghidan -; Jordanov -. EF, attractive light-gray patina.

From the Robert E. Hecht Collection.

Inherited from Rome, the eagle with uplifted wings was a symbol of imperial majesty. It also took on Christian connotations during the Byzantine period, serving as an emblem of John the Evangelist and Christ himself.