Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1203. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Leon (...)instates. Circa 12th-13th century. PB Seal (34mm, 19.31 g, 12h). MP QV across field; H A/GIO/C/O down left field; PI/[TH]/C/A down right field; Theotokos Hagiosoritissa standing facing right, wearing chiton and maphorion, raising hands in gesture of prayer toward manus Dei appearing in upper right field / [...]INCTATHN/ LEONTA/ PARQENE/ CKEPOIC in four lines; cross above, – • – below. Cf. BLS I 2735 bis (for similar obverse type); DOCBS -; Seyrig -; Vatican -; Orghidan -; Jordanov -. VF, gray patina, minor suspension damage.

From the Robert E. Hecht Collection.

The Theotokos Hagiosoritissa (“of the holy soros”[reliquary chest]) was an iconographic type showing the Theotokos in profile with both hands extended in prayer. It probably reflects an icon from a chapel in the church of the Blachernai Monastery in Constantinople. This seal seems to reflect the growing popularity of the image type, which is placed on coins beginning in the 12th century.