Chasanes (Hasan), son of Apocharpes (Abu Harb), 11th century. Seal (Lead, 22 mm, 6.79 g, 12 h). Traces of a circular invocational legend; M[I]-X/A Facing bust of Saint Michael, nimbate, holding scepter in his right hand and globe in his left. Rev. +KЄ R,Θ, / XACANI / [V]IⲰ T૪ A/ΠOXAP/Π’ in five lines. Unpublished in the standard references. An intriguing seal naming an Arab in Byzantine service. Some marks and partial flatness, otherwise, very fine.


A person named Tzourbaneles Apocharpes is attested as a strategos from his seal found in Bulgaria (Jordanov II 46-48). The name is derived from the Arabic kunya or epithet Abu Harb (meaning father of war). It appears to be otherwise unpublished.