Leon, epi tou oikeiakou basilikou vestiariou, circa 850-950. Seal (Lead, 22 mm, 9.78 g, 12 h). +KЄ ROHΘЄI TⲰ CⲰ ΔOVΛⲰ ΛЄONTI Bust of Christ facing, large cross behind his head, raising his right hand in benediction and holding a book of Gospels in his left, all within a circle of pearls. Rev. ...A/...ЄΠI / TOV OIKЄI/AKOV R, REC/TIAPIOV in five lines, decoration below. Unpublished in the standard references. A particularly attractive respresentation of Christ on a seal of a major courtier. Scrapes on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.


Leon was a courtier of the imperial household, attached to the imperial treasury and wardrobe. Unfortunately, Leon's dignity, which is mentioned in the first lines of the reverse inscription, is obscured, but a person of his stature would normally be an imperial protospatharios, which fits the space of the inscription.