Byzantine Empire | Lead Seal (Pb)
Circa 7th–11th Century AD
Material: Lead (Pb)
Weight: 19.60 g
Diameter: 20 mm
Die Axis: 12h
Condition: Good Very Fine (GVF)
⸻
Description
This authentic Byzantine lead seal (molybdobullon) dates to approximately the 7th–11th centuries AD, a period that encompasses the consolidation, expansion, and administrative maturity of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.
Struck in lead, these seals were not coins but official administrative instruments, used to secure and authenticate imperial, ecclesiastical, or military documents. Once affixed to a document with cords or strips, the seal guaranteed the integrity of the message and the authority of its issuer.
The present example displays strongly impressed symbols and lettering, characteristic of Byzantine sigillography. The imagery—often centered around crosses, monograms, or abbreviated inscriptions—reflects the deep fusion of Christian faith and imperial authority that defined Byzantine governance.
With its substantial weight of 19.60 grams, this seal is a robust and well-preserved survivor, offering a tangible connection to the everyday workings of medieval Byzantine administration.
⸻
Historical Context
Byzantine lead seals provide rare insight into a world beyond coinage:
they represent real individuals, offices, and institutions operating within the empire.
During the centuries represented here:
•The Byzantine state developed a sophisticated bureaucracy
•Christianity became inseparable from imperial legitimacy
•Written correspondence governed diplomacy, taxation, military command, and church affairs
Each seal functioned as a personal and official signature, making every surviving example a unique historical artifact.
⸻
Why This Seal Matters
•Genuine Byzantine administrative artifact
•Not a circulating coin, but an object of governance and authority
•Strong Christian-imperial symbolism
•Excellent weight and preservation for its type
•Ideal for collectors of Byzantine history, medieval administration, and sigillography