BYZANTINE. Seal (?) (Lead, 17 mm, 3.92 g, 2 h), Michael, spatharokandidatos, 8th-9th centuries. […]ΛI૪BAC/OBCΠAΘA/POICAHΔ/IΛA… engraved retrograde in five lines. Rev. KE / BOIΘI / [T]ON Δ૪ C૪ / MIXAIΛ C/AΘAPO/AΔIΔ engraved retrograde in six lines. Very fine.

One side of this intriguing object seems to have a nonsensical inscription, reminiscent of objects inscribed with magical incantations. The other side, however, names Michael, who was a spatharokandidatos, with an invocation of the Lord to help him. Implied in the retrograde inscription is an intended use for sealing, maybe as part of a stamp seal. In any case, the closed beta (B, not R) indicates a date before the 10th century.