David Bourtzes, patrikios anthypatos and strategos, 11th century. Seal (Lead, 25 mm, 11.79 g, 12 h). M/I-X/A Nimbate facing bust of St. Michael, wearing loros, holding trefoil scepter in his right hand and globus cruciger in his left. Rev. KЄ R,Θ, / ΔAΔ ΠPI / ANΘVΠAT / S CTPATI / TO ROVP/TZI in six lines, decorations flanking the last line. Apparently unpublished, but Cf. Cheynet, "La Famille Bourtzès" no. 15. A beautiful seal in the name of an important Byzantine military commander. The obverse struck slightly off center, otherwise, good very fine.

In his article on the Bourtzes family, Cheynet published a seal in the Hermitage with a similar image of Michael on the obverse and with an identical name and titles, except for the addition of the court dignity of vestes. This seal very probably belongs to the same individual, with our seal without the title of vestes being the earlier type. A seal sold in Gorny & Mosch 156 (2007), 2371 also attests the office of katepano of Crete for David Bourtzes