187, Lot: 259. Estimate $75. Sold for $225. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BYZANTINE. PB Lead Seal. Philaretos Brachamios. Proedros and doux, second half of the 11th century. (25mm, 15.60 g). O ΘEOΔωPω down left field; O CTPATILAT, down right field; St. Theodore Stratelates standing facing, wearing military attire, holding spear and shield / -+-/ KE ROHΘ/ Tω Cω Δ_Λ/ [Φ]IΛAPETω/ [Π]POEΔPωS/ Δ_K Tω RPA/ XAMIω• in six lines. BLS -; DOCBS -; Vatican -; Seyrig -; Jordanov -; Orghidan -. VF condition, edge chip.

Philaretos was a general of Armenian origin who first rose to prominence under Romanus IV. After Romanus was overthrown, he ruled areas of Cilicia and Syria independently before pledging his loyalty to Nicephorus III upon the emperor’s accession. Although a number of his seals have survived, this type is unpublished in the major references. For several other seals of Philaretos, see Spink 132 (25 May 1999), lots 122-126.