Artabanes (Armenian Artawan), 6th-7th centuries. Seal (Lead, 23 mm, 6.86 g, 12 h). The Mother of God facing, holding infant Christ, both nimbate; to left and right, cross. Rev. Cruciform monogram of APTABANOVC. Unpublished in the standard references, but cf. Zacos/Veglery 592 (differing type, but identical monogram). An interesting early seal of an Armenian in Byzantine service. Very fine.



Given only the personal name provided, attributing our seal, as well as the one published by Zacos/Veglery, to a specific Artabanes is not feasible with certainty. However, one intriguing possibility is linking them to the Armenian general Artabanes, who served in Africa under Justinian I (527-565). He achieved renown for defeating the Vandalic rebel Guntarith and reinstating Byzantine rule in the region.