Eirene Komnene, wife of John III, 1221-circa 1239. Seal (Bronze, 40 mm, 45.61 g, 11 h). [O] / Λ/V-TP/W/T[H]C ('The Redeemer') Christ standing facing on dais, wearing cross nimbus, raising his right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in his left hand. Rev. To left, ЄIPH/NH ЄV/CЄRЄ/CTA/TH; to right, AV/ΓOVCTA KO/MNH/NH ('The most pious empress Eirene Komnene') The empress Eirene Komnene standing facing on dais, wearing divisiton, loros and a crown with pendilia, holding a scepter in her left hand. Seibt/Zarnitz 1.3.2. Zacos/Veglery 119a-b. A very large and impressive Byzantine imperial seal. Some corrosion and the obverse struck somewhat off center, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.
Eirene Komnene was the daughter of Theodoros I Laskaris, emperor of the Empire of Nicaea in 1205-1222. She was married to John Ducas Vatatzes in 1212 and became empress herself when her husband rose to the purple in 1222. Eirene appears to have died in 1239, as John married a second time in 1241/42, this time to a daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor Friedrich II of Hohenstaufen