Theodoros, apo hypaton and genikos kommerkiarios of the warehouse of Armeniakon, Indiction 5 = 676/677. Seal (Lead, 20x26 mm, 16.23 g, 12 h). [IN]-Δ,Є - [ΘЄ]OΔⲰP૪ AΠ/[O V]ΠATⲰN S ΓЄ/[NI]K૪ [KO]MMЄ... in four lines; above, facing bust of Constantine IV, wearing crown and cuirass, holding shield on left arm and spear over right shoulder. Rev. AΠΟΘHKH[C] / [A]PMЄNI[AKⲰN] in three lines; above, facing youthful busts of Herakleios and Tiberios, each wearing chlamys and crown and holding globus cruciger. Unpublished in the standard references. An extremely rare kommerkiarios seal bearing three imperial portraits. Struck on a small flan, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.


'Apothekai' were places where taxes in kind were collected and stored, and which served as centers for the trade and exchange of goods. They were headed by kommerkiarioi, who were assigned to their lucrative position for a fixed period of time - usually one year, but sometimes longer. Kommerkiarioi were the only officials entitled to use imperial portraits on their seals. Zacos/Veglery have summarized Theodoros' career in their Table 3 on p. 146-147. He is attested on numerous seals and for numerous positions, but our seal seems to be hitherto unknown.