Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1191. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $525. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Anonymous Bishop of Ephesus. Circa 11th-12th centuries. PB Seal (26mm, 17.75 g, 12h). O/Iw/O down left field; QE/O/LO/G/´ down right field; St. John standing facing, holding Gospel book in left hand, right hand in benediction / +AGNE/ CKEPOIC/ ME TON [PRO]/EDRON E/FCOV in five lines. Cf. BLS II, 682 (different obv., same rev.); DOCBS III 14.9 var. (rev. inscription); Seyrig -; Vatican -; Orghidan -; Jordanov -;. Good VF, small scrape on reverse, some deposits. Gray surfaces.

From the Robert E. Hecht Collection.

St. John the Theologian was commonly portrayed on the seals of bishops and archbishops of Ephesus. An anonymous seal like this may have been used by the clergy when an office was vacant or a metropolitan was away.