Nikephoros Bourtzes, patrikios and strategos, 2nd half 11th century. Seal (Lead, 27 mm, 18.13 g, 12 h). Θ / ΔH/MH-T/PI/OC Saint Demetrios, standing facing, nimbate, holding spear in his right hand, and resting left hand on a shield. Rev. KЄ R,Θ, / NIKHΦOP, / ΠPI S CTPA/TIΓⲰ TⲰ / R૪PTζI in five lines, decorations below. Cheynet, Société p. 368-370, no. 25. Leu Web Auction 33 (2025), 3044. Well struck and beautifully preserved. Good very fine.


There are a number of seals surviving of Nikephoros Bourtzes, as J.-C. Cheynet shows in his prosopographical study of the Bourtzes family. This seal dates to the early stages of his career. Another seal, currently in Dumbarton Oaks, lists the office of katepano alongside the dignity of vestes. In the early 12th century Nikephoros rose to vestarches, magistros and eventually to proedros. This high rank of proedros does not occur on his known seals, but in the record of a land transaction with the Dochiariou monastery on Mount Athos (see PBW Nikephoros 168).