Radomir Aaron (grandson of Bulgarian tsar Ivan Vladislav), vestes and strategos, 2nd half 11th century. Seal (Lead, 29 mm, 19.08 g, 12 h). Traces of Θ ΔHMH-TPIOC in the fields Saint Demetrios, standing facing, nimbate, holding spear in his right hand, and resting left hand on a shield. Rev. +KЄ R,Θ, / [T]Ⲱ CⲰ Δ૪, / [P]AΔⲰMHP, / [R]ЄCT, S CTP./[T]HΓ, TON / AAPⲰN in six lines. Unpublished in the standard references; a parallel example in Ancient Rarity Coins E-Auction 3 (2026), 1054. A highly interesting new seal type for this Bulgarian prince. Minor flatness in fields and struck slightly off center, otherwise, good very fine.


Radomir was the grandson of Aron, son of the last Bulgarian tsar Ivan Vladislav, who entered the service of the Byzantine emperor along with his brothers. These Bulgarian princes were granted high court dignities and important military commands, mainly along the eastern border. The Bulgarian royal family was also connected to the Komnenoi. Radomir’s aunt, Catherine, was married to the future emperor Isaac I Komnenos (1057-1059), and the emperor Alexios I Komnenos (1081-1118) was married to Irene Doukaina, a great-granddaughter of Ivan Vladislav.

Radomir, who adopted his father's name as a family name, is known from several seal types that document his career, from magistros and vestarches to proedros, ultimately reaching his highest known rank as protoproedros. Our seal type, attesting him as vestes and strategos appears to be unpublished. The court rank of vestes is the most modest of his known seals, which places our seal at the start of his career.