Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1132. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Theodotos. Hypatos, 8th century. PB Seal (28mm, 30.73 g, 12h). +EXELOV ME K(YPI)E EXANQROPOV (retrograde) in circular inscription; QEOTOKE BOHQHEI in cruciform monogram in center / PONHR(OY) APO A[N]DROC ADIK(OY) in circular inscription; Q[EO]/DOT(OY) / VPAT / - (OY) - in four lines in center. Cf. BLS I 1647 (for similar type) and p. 1113 (for use of quotations); DOCBS -; Seyrig -; Vatican -; Orghidan -; Jordanov -. Good VF, tan patina.

From the Robert E. Hecht Collection. Ex Gorny & Mosch 152 (9 October 2006), lot 2691.

This seals quotes are interesting invocations from two different Psalms. The obverse derives from Psalm 140, verse 1: “Rescue me, O Lord, from the evil man;” the reverse from Psalm 43, verse 1: “Deliver me from the unjust man.” According to BLS I, the use of such quotations is extremely rare. This is more than likely the result of the Iconclastic Controversy raging at the time, when images of a religious nature were removed from all religious and official items, because they were viewed as contravening the Second Commandment regarding graven images.