Pilgrim Badge Depicting St. Simeon Stylites

390, Lot: 669. Estimate $150. Sold for $650. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BYZANTINE to EARLY MEDIEVAL. Christian Pilgrim Badge. Circa 10-11th centuries AD, or perhaps earlier. Theotokos (Virgin Mary) enthroned facing, holding Holy Infant on lap; retrograde MAPIA + down left, retrograde HAΓIA up right / St. Simeon Stylites atop column with ladder leaning against it; angels in flight on either side of his head; below, censer to left, nimbus(?) to right. Dimensions: Weight: 9.27g; Horizontal diameter: 30mm; Vertical diameter: 40mm (including suspension loop). Cf. http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2012/byzantium-and-islam/blog/characters/posts/symeon (for other examples). VF, brown patina, a few deposits.