Georgios, sebastophoros and protovestiarios, 11th century. Seal (Lead, 36 mm, 27.11 g, 12 h). Θ / ΓЄ/Ⲱ/P-[ΓHOC] Saint George, standing facing, nimbate, holding spear in his right hand, and resting left hand on a shield. Rev. [+K]Є R,Θ, | [TⲰ] CⲰ Δ૪ / [ΓЄ]ⲰPΓIⲰ / [CЄ]RACTO/[Φ]OPⲰ S A/RЄCTIAP, in seven lines, decorations above and below. Laurent, Corpus II 710 (from a different boulloterion). An impressive seal of a high ranking palace eunuch. Some scrapes and weakness of strike, otherwise, very fine.


The dignity of sebastophoros (literally “emperor-carrier”, perhaps alluding to the honor of carrying the imperial banner) was reserved for eunuchs and was one of the highest honors in the imperial court, although the title became victim to inflation during the 12th century