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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Greek Countermarked||View Options:   | | | A countermark is a stamped or punched impression adding elements of design to a coin after it was originally struck. The practice of countermarking coins was widespread throughout antiquity. It was particularly common in the provinces of the Roman Empire. Countermarks were applied to coins for many reasons, including revalidation, revaluation, devaluation, and propaganda. Exactly when and why any individual countermark was applied is often uncertain. |
Now there was a certain man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort...(Acts 10:1).
Spijkermann was the first to publish a countermarked prutah, also a Valerius Gratus coin, in 1963. Lönnqvist published the first detailed study, "New Vistas on the Countermarked Coins of the Roman Prefects of Judaea" in INJ 12. Kogon published an update, "Countermarks on Small Judean Coins" in INR 7, identifying 47 known specimens of countermarked prutah of all types. Both papers are available online. Lönnqvist interpreted CΠ in the countermark as an abbreviation for the Greek word ΣΠΕIPA, referring to a Roman legionary tactical unit, a cohors. The use of CΠ referring to a cohors is also known from an inscription. He suggested that the countermarks were applied in 36 - 37 A.D. in Jerusalem to mark the coins as pay for the soldiers of the cohors II Italica civium Romanorum.JD111613. Bronze prutah, Hendin 6369a (same c/m); RPC I 4966.8-11 (same); Meshorer TJC 330 (same); countermark: Kogon 3b, Howgego GIC 386, coin: Fair, countermark: VF, weight 2.195 g, maximum diameter 17.7 mm, die axis 0o, Jerusalem mint, 24 - 25 A.D., c/m: 36 - 37/41 A.D.; obverse TIB / KAI/CAP (Greek: Tiberius Caesar) in three lines within wreath tied at base with an X; reverse palm branch curving right, flanked by IOY-ΛIA (Greek: Julia = Tiberius' mother Livia) above L - IA (year 11 of Tiberius) in two lines across field; countermark: palm frond flanked by C-Π within 8mm circular punch; from the collection of a Texas clergyman, ex J. P. Fontanille Collection (2016); rare countermark; SOLD
Antioch, Roman Provincial Syria, Fall 48 - Spring 47 B.C., Cleopatra Countermark
From McAlee, The Coins of Roman Antioch, p. 74, note 25: "The coins of this year (Pompeian Era 19 = 48/7 BC) and of Year 3 of the Caesarean Era are frequently seen with a countermark on the obverse, which was previously described as "head of Apollo r." in an oval. As discussed in the text, it now seems likely that the countermark portrays Cleopatra, and was used to mark coins circulating in the Syro-Phoenician territories, which were given to her by Mark Antony."CM25063. Bronze tetrachalkon, McAlee 43; RPC I 4216; BMC Galatia p. 155, 35; Cohen DCA 384; HGC 9 1366; SNG Cop -; countermark: McAlee p. 74, note 25, VF/F, countermark VF, weight 14.149 g, maximum diameter 24.8 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, fall 48 - spring 47 B.C.; c/m: c. 36 - 30 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Zeus right; countermark: bust of Cleopatra right in an incuse oval; reverse ANTIOXEΩN THΣ MHTPOΠOΛEΩΣ, Zeus Nicephorus enthroned left, chest bare, himation around hips and legs, Nike offering wreath in his extended right hand, long scepter vertical in left hand, fulmen (thunderbolt) above, cornucopia (control symbol) inner left, IΘ (Pompeian Era year 19) below, all within laurel wreath; SOLD
Aspendos, Pamphylia, 370 - 333 B.C.
The countermark appears to be a Hoplite advancing right with sword in right and round shield in left, in oval incuse. The hoplite represents the soldiery for which Aspendus was famous. The astonishing abundance of the silver money of Aspendus is a proof of the commercial importance of the town; and the number of countermarks and barbarous imitations shows that it circulated widely in the region.22.6SH95389. Silver stater, Arslan-Lightfoot 39; SNGvA 4561; Tekin Series 4, 11; SNG BnF 84; SNG Cop 231; SNG Berry 1224 (all same obv die), VF, attractive rainbow toning, typical slightly flat strike, weight 10.855 g, maximum diameter 22.6 mm, die axis 0o, Aspendos (Serik, Turkey) mint, 370 - 333 B.C.; obverse two wrestlers, the left one holds the wrist of his opponent with his right and right forearm with his left hand, AK between their legs; reverse slinger, wearing short chiton, discharging sling to right, triskeles on right with feet clockwise, EΣTΦEΔIIYΣ upward on left, countermark lower right: lion head right in a round 3.6mm punch; ex Forum (2011); SOLD
Aegina, Saronic Islands, Greece, c. 510 - 490 B.C.
The turtle coin type is considered a "must have" by many ancient coin collectors because Aegina was probably the first place in Europe to issue coinage.
Click here to read about Greek Turtles.SH79679. Silver stater, HGC 6 433 (S); SNG Delepierre 1670, SNG Cop 503, SGCV I 1849 (none with this countermark), VF, obverse well centered on a tight flan, edge bump, light marks and lightly etched surfaces, weight 11.390 g, maximum diameter 20.2 mm, Aigina mint, c. 510 - 490 B.C.; obverse sea turtle, straight raised collar and row of dots down the middle of the shell, countermark: head (female?) right; reverse incuse square with "proto-skew" device; SOLD
Side, Pamphylia, c. 220 - 190 B.C., Sardes Lydia Cistophoric Countermark
Interesting countermark applied c. 180 B.C. with the introduction of the Cistophoric coinage. On our coin the countermark reads ΣAP (Sardes, Lydia). Other cities that applied similar countermarks to Attic weight coins are Apamea, Ephesos, Laodikea, Pergamon and Tralles.SH30033. Silver tetradrachm, SNGvA 4794; c/m: see Bauslaugh Countermarks, aVF, c/m aEF, weight 16.480 g, maximum diameter 28.3 mm, die axis 0o, Side (near Selimiye, Antalya Province, Turkey) mint, obverse head of Athena right in a crested Corinthian helmet, round countermark of bow in case and ΣAP legend on left; reverse Nike advancing left, wreath extended in right, pomegranate in left field, ΣTΗ monogram below (magistrate's name); SOLD
Phaselis, Lycia, 213 - 212 B.C., Civic Issue in the Name of Alexander the Great, with Seleukid Countermark
Phaselis was under Ptolemaic control from 209 to 197 B.C. Antiochus III took control in 197 and formally took possession of the Egyptian territories in Anatolia through the Peace of Lysimachia in 195. Despite the vicissitudes of the area, Phaselis seems to have retained significant autonomy and struck Alexander type tetradrachms with remarkable continuity from 218 - 185 B.C. The series ended shortly after the conclusion of the Apamea treaty, when Phaselis and the other cities of Lycia were handed over to the Kingdom of Rhodes. From 190 to 160 B.C. it remained under Rhodeian hegemony. After 160 B.C. Phaselis was absorbed into the Lycian confederacy under Roman rule. In the 1st century B.C., the city was taken over by the pirate Zekenites for a period until his defeat by the Romans.SH71158. Silver tetradrachm, Price 2840, Mektepini Hoard 495, Cohen DCA 315, Müller Alexander -, VF, broad flan, attractive dark toning worn from high-points, slight double strike, weight 16.651 g, maximum diameter 32.4 mm, die axis 0o, Lycia, Phaselis (near Tekirova, Turkey) mint, 213 - 212 B.C.; obverse head of Herakles right, wearing Nemean Lion skin, scalp over head, forepaws tied at neck; Seleukid countermark: anchor in an oval punch; reverse AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus enthroned left, right leg drawn back, eagle in extended right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand C (year 6) over Φ left; countermark: Seleukid anchor in rounded rectangular incuse; scarce; SOLD
Side, Pamphylia, c. 145 - 125 B.C.
In 190 B.C. a fleet from Rhodes, supported by Rome and Pergamum, defeated the Seleucid fleet under the command of the fugitive Carthaginian general Hannibal. The Seleucid defeat freed Side from the overlord-ship of the Seleucid Empire. The Treaty of Apamea (188 B.C.) left Side in a state of uncertain freedom. It was during this period of autonomy that Side struck these tetradrachms. It would last until 36 B.C. when the city came under the rule of the Roman client King of Galatia, Amyntas.GS92896. Silver tetradrachm, SNGvA 4796 (also with anchor c/m); SNG BnF 694; BMC Pamphylia p. 148, 46 (KΛE-YX), Choice VF, well centered, reverse strike a little flat, obverse flattened opposite of countermark, weight 16.505 g, maximum diameter 28.8 mm, die axis 0o, Side (near Selimiye, Antalya Province, Turkey) mint, magistrate Kleuch-, c. 145 - 125 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right in a crested Corinthian helmet; reverse Nike advancing left, wreath extended in right hand, pomegranate in left field, KΛ-E (magistrate's name) divided across field below center; countermark: anchor within incuse rectangle; ex Numismatik Naumann auction 77 (5 May 2019), lot 287; SOLD
Antioch, Roman Provincial Syria, c. 47 - 45 B.C., Cleopatra Countermark
McAlee, The Coins of Roman Antioch, p. 74, note 25 says tetrachalkoi of this time, "...are frequently seen with a countermark on the obverse which was previously described as 'head of Apollo r. in an oval...it now seems likely that the countermark portrays Cleopatra, and was used to mark coins circulating in the Syro-Phoenician territories which were given to her by Mark Antony." SH70086. Bronze tetrachalkon, cf. McAlee 46 - 50, Butcher 15 - 17, RPC I 4219 - 4221, HGC 9 1367, DCA 392; countermark: McAlee p. 74, note 25; Butcher 18, VF/F, reverse flattened from countermarking and scratched, Choice countermark, weight 12.285 g, maximum diameter 24.1 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, c. 47 - 45 B.C.; countermark: c. 36 - 30 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Zeus right; countermark: bust of Cleopatra right in an incuse oval; reverse ANTIOXEΩN THΣ MHTPOΠOΛEΩΣ, Zeus Nicephorus enthroned left, chest bare, himation around hips and legs, Nike offering wreath in his extended right hand, long scepter vertical in left hand, fulmen (thunderbolt) above, headdress of Isis(?) inner left, uncertain Pompeian Era date below, all within laurel wreath; ex CNG e-auction 321, lot 171; SOLD
Side, Pamphylia, c. 220 - 190 B.C., Apameia ad Maeandrum, Phrygia Countermark
Interesting countermark applied c. 180 B.C. with the introduction of the Cistophoric coinage. On our coin the countermark reads AΠA (for Apamea Maeandrum, Phrygia). Other cities that applied similar countermarks to Attic weight coins are Ephesos, Laodikea, Pergamon, Sardes and Tralles.SH29561. Silver tetradrachm, SNGvA 4790; c/m: see Bauslaugh Countermarks, aVF, weight 16.026 g, maximum diameter 29.9 mm, die axis 0o, Side (near Selimiye, Antalya Province, Turkey) mint, c. 220 - 190 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right in a crested Corinthian helmet, round countermark of bow in case and A-ΠA legend on left; reverse Nike advancing left, wreath extended in right, pomegranate in left field, ΔIO below (magistrate's name); SOLD
Graxa, Calabria, Italy, 250 - 89 B.C.
The location of Graxa has not yet been discovered and the dating of the coinage is also uncertain. Historia Numorum dates this type c. 250 - 200 B.C. Lindgren dates it 200 - 89 B.C.SH66048. Bronze AE 13, Lindgren II 249 (this coin), SNG Cop 749, BMC Italy, p. 222, 9 (uncertain Calabria), HN Italy 773, VF, weight 1.691 g, maximum diameter 12.6 mm, die axis 90o, Graxa mint, 250 - 89 B.C.; obverse scallop shell, o countermark left; reverse eagle right, wings open, thunderbolt in talons, crescent right, ΓPA below; this is the Lindgren plate coin!; very rare; SOLD
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