Konstantinos Kourkouas (Armenian Gurgen), hypatos, 11th century. Seal (Lead, 27 mm, 9.80 g, 12 h). Θ - ...O Nimbate facing bust of Saint Theodore, holding sword in scabbard in his right hand. Rev. +KЄ BO / KⲰN…/…Ⲱ VΠ[A / K૪]PKOV/A in five lines, decorations flanking the last line. Jordanov, Corpus II p. 241-242 (quoting an unpublished seal from the Zacos collection). Edge chipping, otherwise, good very fine.



The Kourkouas family was an aristocratic family of noble Armenian descent. Several of its members are attested on seals and mentioned by ancient historians. The most well-known family member was John Kourkouas, general of Romanus I Lecapanus (920-944).