An interesting case of overstruck over the coin, minted during the Persian occupation of Syria in the early 7th century.Recently I came across a very interesting example of an
Arab-Byzantine (as I think)
overstruck coin. The host coin turned out to be an
imitative follis, minted during the occupation of
Syria by the Persians in the early 7th century. The original coin
had an
obverse associated with the same die of some of the coins published by Henri
Pottier in
his monograph (Cahiers Ernest-Babelon 9, “Le Monnayage de la Syrie sous l'occupation Perse 610-630”).
The coin's
obverse imitated the
Heraclius with Heraclitus
Constantine follis. The second
part of the fantasy
legend is clearly visible: ...АЛСNCTo.
The
reverse of the host
follis was minted from a very similar to 9.1 and 10.3 folles dies from the same
Pottier catalog, which are also an imitation issues. The first
part of blundered
mint mark is also clearly visible, imitating the sign of the Theopolis (
Antioch)
mint: СHEP...
Since the old host coin turned out to be large for the new coin due to the lowering of the
weight standard, the old
follis was clipped off in two cuts at about 80 degrees to one another. In my opinion, the new pseudo
Sear 815
type follis is not an imperial
mint, but an
Arab-Byzantine imitative follis, judging by the details of its images. But, of course, I could be wrong on this.