THE COINS OF PONTIUS PILATE

THE COUNTERMARKS

Throughout the world only thirteen specimens of Pilate's coins are listed as bearing countermarks. Three of them can be found in Israel's museums, and the other ten are in private collections. I am the lucky owner of five of them which are presented hereafter.

The countermarks represent a branch of the palm tree flanked by Greek letters "C", or "Cpi" or "U". According to the most credible hypothesis, the most frequent letters "Cpi" are an abbreviation of a Greek word designating a cohort, (a detachment of about 1000 soldiers), and applies to the 22nd Roman legion, which was stationed in the region. These countermarks could have been stamped in about 36 C.E, the period when Pilate left his official post. The palm branch may have indicated the place where the cohort was stationed, where there was perhaps palm groves. Nobody knows the meaning of the letters "U" or "C".

The countermarks were therefore stamped by the Roman legions purpose connected with military affairs. It is noticeable that the engravers took care to save the central motif, which is generally clearly visible. That must have been a delicate operation to accomplish in view of the small size of both the coin and the countermark's matrix. This little detail reveals the importance attached to these coins; the countermarks add an extra dimension to objects already loaded with history. On the other hand, their scarcity is a mystery: the palm branch appears in different form; would anyone make several matrices just to mint a handful of specimens ? It seems odd, but not impossible.

5 Pilate's Coins bearing Countermarks among the only 13 specimens listed throughout the world.