Nomos 21

Uncertain ruler, 10th - 11th century. One-sided roundel (Bronze, 52 mm, 5.42 g, 12 h), a one-sided, possibly once gilt, bracteate-like roundel, almost certainly meant to serve as an ornament at one of the eight ends of a two-sided processional cross. OA / ΘE/O-ΔO/PO/C Half length figure of St. Theodore of Amasea facing, armor covered by a cloak, holding spear in his right hand and a sword within its scabbard with his left. Rev. Incuse version of the obverse design. For typical examples of Byzantine processional crosses see M. Martiniani-Reber, Byzance en Suisse, Geneva, 2015, pp. 325 ff., and Wikipedia. For a contemporary, or slightly earlier, full figure representation of St. Theodore of Amasea, see the figure on the Harbaville Triptych in Louvre (OA 3247). A lovely piece, with a fine green patina and an excellent portrait of St. Theodore, done in a simple but very elegant style. Extremely fine.

From an American collection.

St. Theodore, sometimes known as Theodoros Teron - the recruit, seems to have been a soldier who was martyred in Amasea, where he had been based. Apparently he refused to join the other soldiers in pagan worship and was arrested, though since he was still quite young he was freed. He then went on to try and burn down the local temple to Kybele, after which he was first tortured and then thrown into a furnace. His bones were taken away by a religious woman and brought to his birthplace at the town of Euchaita, which was located fairly nearby. A shrine was established there, which was in use up to the 11th century.