Konstantinos Monasteriotes, sebastos, 13th century. Seal (Lead, 41 mm, 55.21 g, 12 h). O / A/ΓI/OC - ΓЄ/ⲰP/ΓI/O/C Saint George, nimbate, standing facing, holding spear in his right hand and resting his left hand on shield. Rev. MAPTVC MЄ / TON CON OIKЄTHN / KWNCTANTINON / CKЄΠOIC CERA/[CT]ON TON MONACT/[HPIWT]HN ('Martyr, may you protect me, your servant Konstantinos Monasteriotes, sebastos') in six lines, cross above. Wassiliou-Seibt, Corpus 1376 (quoting a single seal in Thessaloniki). A heavy and impressive late Byzantine seal. Minor roughness and scratches, otherwise, very fine.


According to Wassiliou-Seibt, the family name Monasteriotes likely derives from the toponym Monasterion, present day Bitola, in North Macedonia. An alternative explanation is that the name is Armenian, referring to Vanetsi, a town near lake Van, which has the same meaning as the Greek Monasteriotes, 'coming from the monastery'.