Niketas, Commander of the Imperial Navy

Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1141. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $550. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Niketas. Magistros, and drungarios and katepano of the imperial Ploimon, mid to late 9th century. PB Seal (24mm, 9.96 g, 1h). KE BOHQEI Tw Cw DOVLw, patriarchal cross on four steps / +NIKHTA / MAGICT DR/(OY)VGG’ TOV B’ P/LOIM[OV] KATE/P’ T[...]LOIM in five lines; crosses above and below. Cf. BLS I 2253 and 2258(seal of same person); DOCBS -; Seyrig -; Vatican -; Orghidan -; Jordanov -. Good VF, tan patina, some suspension damage.

From the Robert E. Hecht Collection. Ex Gorny & Mosch 152 (10 October 2006), lot 2969.

This seal probably belongs to Niketas Ooryphas, commander of the imperial navy under Michael II and Basil I. Around 867, Niketas commanded the naval fleet dispatched to deal with Arabs sacking the Dalmatian coast.