Ekdikoi of Hagia Sophia

Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1211. Estimate $7500.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $8200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Ekdikoi of Hagia Sophia. Circa 13th century. PB Seal (51mm, 79.25 g, 12h). Struck circa 1200. I/OV/CTI/NI/[A]/NON / DEC/[P]O/THN (CT and THN ligate) down left field; H AGIA across upper field; CO/F’I/A between figures; MP/QV/H BO/HQH/A down right field; Justinian I and the Theotokos holding a model of the Church of Hagia Sophia between them; in left field, Justinian standing facing, crowned, wearing divitision and loros, holding model with left hand, right hand raised in supplication; in right field, Virgin standing slightly left, head facing, wearing chiton and maphorion, holding model with both hands; dome of Church supported by four pillars, patriarchal cross within / +TOIC QE/OCEBECTATOIC (CT ligate)/ PRECBVTEPOIC (PR ligate)/ KAI EKKLHC/ EKDIKOIC in five lines; decorative tendrils above and below legend. BLS I 73 var. (obverse legend); DOCBS -; Seyrig -; Vatican -; Orghidan -; Jordanov -. Good VF, brown patina, suspension hole.

From the Robert E. Hecht Collection.

The ekdikoi were a college of priests responsible for the administration of holy sites, and had a further judicial function, in that accused criminals who sought asylum in churches would be judged by them. The office was established by Justinian I, but did not acquire a real presence in the administration of church affairs until the 11th century.