Alms seal of Hadrian Komnenos, second half of the 12th century

Alms Seal of Hadrian Komnenos,

Constantinople, second half of the 12th century

Diameter: 1.5 cm. Weight; 4.10 g.

Num. no.: NM P.K. a/a 2

On the obverse is a leafy Cross with inscriptions on its antennae. On its left and right sides, the monogram IC XC = Jesus Christ.

On the reverse is a five-line inscription. ΚΕΡΟΗΘ | ΤΟΣΟΣΟΣ | ΛΟΑΡΙΑ | ΝΟΤΟΚΟ | ΜΝΙΝΟΚΟ = Lord help my servant Hadrian Komnenos.

philanthropy six good morals towards man friendship; six beneficial to people,

charity relationship, memory with beneficence

Philanthropy and almsgiving, the highest virtues according to Christianity, were basic principles of the life of all Byzantines, from the emperor to his last subject. The emperor as the presence and imitative of God is at the top of charitable practice. The same applies to the people of his House and his other relatives, as, of course, for all wealthy Byzantines.

The rich and charitable issued and circulated through charitable institutions philanthropic stamps, which bore their names and sometimes their titles, for the relief of the poor. With these stamps, the poor could secure free food, clothing or a visit to the public baths.

This particular stamp, which was accidentally discovered in the “Museum Vaults”, bears the name Hadrian Komnenos and is presented here by the undersigned for the first time. It would be very tempting to attribute it to the younger brother of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, Hadrian, who assumed, already upon his brother’s accession to the throne in 1081, the high honorary title of Protosevastos and a few years later, 1087-1105, the important office of Grand Domestic of all the West. Three lead stamps of Hadrian Komnenos are in the Collections of the Numismatic Museum (inv. nos. NM124, NM125 and NM126).

Due to the rarity of the tessera, as well as the large number of members of the wealthy Komnenian family bearing the name “Hadrian”, the seal needs more systematic research, the results of which will be published shortly.

Selected bibliography:

J.W. Nesbitt, “Byzantine Copper Tokens”, SBS 1 (1987), 67-75.

L. Mavrommatis, “Aspects of Philanthropy in Byzantium”, Everyday Life in Byzantium, Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium, Center for Byzantine Research/E.I.E., Athens 1989, 147-152.

Marielle Martiniani-Reber, Byzance en Suisse, Milan 2015, 169-170.