Michael Karantenos, circa 1050-1100. Seal (Lead, 22 mm, 9.74 g, 12 h). St. Michael, nimbate, standing facing, holding scepter in his right hand and globe in his left. Rev. CΦPAΓ, / [M]IXAHΛ KA/[P]ANTHNOV / ΓPAMMA/TWN ("Seal of the letters of Michael Karantenos") in five lines. Unpublished in the standard references. Some weakness of strike, otherwise, very fine.

It is likely, although not verifiable, that this seal belongs to the Michael Karantenos attested in an inscription as vestarches and doux of Crete for 1088/89 or 1094 (Jordanov, Corpus II, p. 187). The two other types signed by a person of the same name (Orghidan 437 & Wassiliou-Seibt, and Jordanov, Corpus II 279 and III, 1921 and Wassiliou-Seibt 1090), on the other hand, bear a metric legend and have a different iconography: they date to the middle of the 12th century and must belong to a different individual. It is worth noting that a seal type in Dumbarton Oaks (Wassiliou-Seibt 2617) belonging to a 'Michael Sarantenos' has exactly the same verse composition and obverse iconography as our example: perhaps this poorly preserved seal has been misread and is, in fact, a parallel to our piece