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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Numismatics| ▸ |Countermarked||View Options:  |  |  |   

Countermarked Ancient Coins

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.

Elagabalus, 16 May 218 - 11 March 222 A.D., Gerasa, Decapolis, Arabia

|Roman| |Arabia|, |Elagabalus,| |16| |May| |218| |-| |11| |March| |222| |A.D.,| |Gerasa,| |Decapolis,| |Arabia||AE| |20|
Jerash, Jordan is north of the national capital Amman. Inhabited since the Bronze Age, it?s known for the ruins of the walled Greco-Roman city Gerasa just outside the modern city. Josephus mentions the city as being principally inhabited by Syrians, but also having a small Jewish community. In 106, Jerash was absorbed into the Roman province of Arabia, which included Philadelphia (modern day Amman). Jerash is considered one of the largest and most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture outside of Italy. It is sometimes referred to as the "Pompeii of the Middle East" due to its size, extent of excavation and level of preservation.
RP57203. Bronze AE 20, RPC Online VI T9306.4 (same c/m, 7 spec.); Spijkerman 34a.3 (same coin); Rosenberger 41 (same c/m); Sofaer 32; c/m: Howgego 376 (9 spec.), Choice F, well centered, nice sea-green patina, rare fully legible rev. legend; c/m: F, weight 7.065 g, maximum diameter 19.7 mm, die axis 180o, Gerasa (Jerash, Jordon) mint, c. 218 - 222 A.D.; obverse AVT KAICAP ANTWNINOC, laureate and draped bust right, seen from behind; reverse AΛEΞANΔPOC MAKEΔWN, diademed head of Alexander the Great right, countermark: strung bow; very nice for the type!; very rare; $575.00 SALE PRICE $518.00
 


Byzantine Empire, Maurice Tiberius, 13 August 582 - 22 November 602 A.D.

|Byzantine| |Countermarked|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Maurice| |Tiberius,| |13| |August| |582| |-| |22| |November| |602| |A.D.||follis|NEW
The countermark has been identified as the monogram of Theodore, brother (or perhaps half-brother) of Heraclius, (c. 634-636 A.D.), by comparison with his identical monograms on seals. A very rare countermark, missing from most collections.
BZ113347. Bronze follis, DOC I 31b, SBCV 494, Wroth BMC 46, Morrisson BnF I 7/Cp/AE/19 var. (officina), Sommer 7.21.2, Tolstoi -, Ratto -; Countermark: Lampinen pp. 399-404, VF, attractive dark patina with earthen highlights, weight 11.566 g, maximum diameter 31.0 mm, die axis 180o, Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) mint, 589 - 590 A.D.; obverse D N MAVRC - TIbER PP AVC, helmeted and cuirassed bust facing, globus cruciger in right hand, shield in left hand ornamented with horseman, countermark: monogram in a 7.5mm round punch; reverse large M (40 nummi), cross above, ANNO left, ςII (year 8) right, B (2nd officina) below, CON (Constantinople) in exergue; very rare countermark; $500.00 SALE PRICE $450.00
 


Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Anazarbus, Cilicia, Marciana Reverse

|Cilicia|, |Trajan,| |25| |January| |98| |-| |8| |or| |9| |August| |117| |A.D.,| |Anazarbus,| |Cilicia,| |Marciana| |Reverse||trihemiassaria|NEW
Marciana, the eldest sister of the emperor Trajan, and mother of Matidia, was an accomplished woman. She lost her husband before her brother became emperor, and lived as a widow with Trajan's wife, Plotina, to whom she was united by the tenderest and most uninterrupted friendship. She an Plotina were awarded the title Augusta at the same time in 105. Marciana died c. 112 - 114 and received the honors of consecretation.
RP114951. Bronze trihemiassaria, Ziegler 107.3 (Vs1/Rs2, same dies & c/m), RPC Online III 3371.2 (same), SNGvA 5476 (same), SNG Levante 1383 (same); c/m: Howgego 23, aVF, porous, green patina, traces of pre-strike flan casting sprue and mold offset, tiny edge splits, weight 11.319 g, maximum diameter 25.4 mm, die axis 0o, Anazarbus (Anavarza, Turkey) mint, 113 -114 A.D.; obverse AYTO KAI NEP TPAIANOC CE ΓEP ΔA (Imperator Caesar Nerva Traianus Augustus Germanicus Dacicus), laureate head of Trajan right, oval countermark of head of Zeus right; reverse KAICAPE ΠP ANAZAPBΩ MAPKIANHN ΘE (ΠP ligate), draped bust of Diva Marciana right, seen from front, wearing large stephane, hair plaited and coiled on top at back of head, ET - BΛP (year 132) divided across field; $200.00 SALE PRICE $180.00
 


Severus Alexander and Julia Maesa, 222 - 235 A.D., Ninica-Claudiopolis, Cilicia

|Cilicia|, |Severus| |Alexander| |and| |Julia| |Maesa,| |222| |-| |235| |A.D.,| |Ninica-Claudiopolis,| |Cilicia||AE| |36|
Ammianus mentions Silifke and Claudiopolis as cities of Cilicia, or of the country drained by the Calycadnus; and Claudiopolis was a colony of Claudius Caesar. It is described by Theophanes of Byzantium as situated in a plain between the two Taurus Mountains, a description which exactly, corresponds to the position of the basin of the Calycadnus. Claudiopolis may therefore be represented by Mut, which is higher up the valley than Seleucia, and near the junction of the northern and western branches of the Calycadnus. It is also the place to which the pass over the northern Taurus leads from Laranda. The city received the Roman colony name Colonia Iulia Felix Augusta Ninica.
RB91011. Bronze AE 36, cf. asiaminorcoins.com 6551 (same obv. die & c/m), SNG Levante -, RPC Online -, SNG BnF -, SNG Cop -, BMC Cilicia -, c/m: Howgego 262, F, weak legends, porosity, edge cracks, weight 17.901 g, maximum diameter 35.8 mm, die axis 180o, Ninica-Claudiopolis (Mut, Mersin, Turkey) mint, 222 - 235 A.D.; obverse IMP C SEVERUS ALEXANΔER AVΓ (or similar), laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; c/m: Nike right in c. 5 x 8 mm oval punch (3 times); reverse IVL MAECA COL IVL FEL NINIO CLAUΔIOPOLI (or similar), draped bust of Julia Maesa right; huge 35.8 mm!; ex Forum (2015); extremely rare; $160.00 SALE PRICE $144.00
 


Tiberius, 19 August 14 - 16 March 37 A.D., Magydus, Pamphylia

|Other| |Pamphylia|, |Tiberius,| |19| |August| |14| |-| |16| |March| |37| |A.D.,| |Magydus,| |Pamphylia||AE| |18|
Magydus was a small town on the coast between Attaleia and Perga, occasionally mentioned by ancient geographers, and on numerous coins of the imperial era. Its site was probably at modern Lara in the Ottoman vilayet of Konia, where there are ruins of a small man-made harbor. RPC Online notes, Ahmet Tolga Tek wrote, the countermark was used in Pamphylia on coins of Phaselis, Perge and Side.
RP114037. Bronze AE 18, RPC I 3367B, c/m: Howgego 432, aVF, green patina, light earthen deposits, marks, weight 4.206 g, maximum diameter 17.6 mm, die axis 0o, Magydus (Lara, Turkey) mint, obverse TIBEPIOC KAICAP, laureate head right; countermark: eight pointed star in a round punch; reverse MAΓYDEWN - H (year 8?), Jugate helmeted busts (Dioscuri?) right; zero sales of this type recorded on Coin Archives in the last two decades; extremely rare; $150.00 SALE PRICE $135.00
 


Caracalla, 28 January 198 - 8 April 217 A.D., Alabanda, Caria

|Other| |Caria|, |Caracalla,| |28| |January| |198| |-| |8| |April| |217| |A.D.,| |Alabanda,| |Caria||AE| |26|
The portrait countermarks of Caracalla and Geta (Howgego 39i & 39ii) are well-known on Alabandian Roman provincials from the standpoint of their occurrence, but not much is known on why they exist. Writing in Greek Imperial Countermarks (1985), Christopher Howgego notes simply, "It is impossible to read the letters on many of the countermarks. The countermarks are not found on the coins of Caracalla's sole reign (unlike cmk 52) and therefore probably belong to the joint reign of Caracalla and Geta." In part five of SNG Tübingen, however, we find two Severan coins of Alabanda probably marked with the bust of Julia Domna (nos. 3343 & 3346), in a manner similar to the other Severan countermarks. Also intriguing is the possibility of Severus within the obverse punch on BMC Caria 46, who looks both laureate and bearded, in addition to a letter on either side of the portrait which may read "C – E" rather than "G – E." In light of this evidence, one wonders if the purpose of the literal Howgego 39 family of marks was tied to an imperial visit to Alabanda or the anticipation of one.
RP112699. Bronze AE 26, BMC Caria, p. 8, 46 (same dies); SNG Tüb 3345, 3346 corr. (leg. arrangement); McClean 8442; countermarks: obv: Howgego 39ii; rev: Howgego -, F, green patina, scratches, areas flattened by countermarks, chipped patina on edge, scattered porosity on rev., weight 6.302 g, maximum diameter 25.8 mm, die axis 0o, Alabanda (Doganyurt, Turkey) mint, 28 Jan 198 - 8 Apr 217 A.D.; obverse ΑV Κ Μ ΑV Α[ΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC?], laureate, cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; countermark: right-facing bust of Caracalla with sideways 'A' before (pointing inward), in a 6.5mm round punch; reverse AΛABANΔEΩN, kithara (lyre); countermark: eagle with wings open(?); the first example of this type handled by Forum; from the Michael Arslan Collection; added to the RPC Online V database; scarce; $120.00 SALE PRICE $108.00
 


Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Docimeium, Phrygia

|Other| |Phrygia|, |Nero,| |13| |October| |54| |-| |9| |June| |68| |A.D.,| |Docimeium,| |Phrygia||AE| |18|
Cybele was born a hermaphrodite, but castrated by the gods, she became female. Heeding the Sibylline oracle the senate brought her worship to Rome in 204 B.C. as the first officially sanctioned Eastern cult. After approval, they were dismayed to learn that the priesthood required voluntary self-castration, which was abhorrent to the Romans. Romans were barred from entering the priesthood or even entering the priest's sanctuary. The eunuch priests, recruited from outside Rome, were confined to their sanctuary, leaving only to parade in the streets during festivals in April. Claudius removed the bans on Roman participation, making worship of Cybele and her consort Attis part of the state religion.
RP113887. Brass AE 18, RPC I 3213.3 (same c/m); BMC Phrygia p. 191, 18 (same); Waddington 5954 (same); Hunterian II 2 = SNG Hunt I 2042 (same); c/m: Howgego 224, VF, well-defined countermark, dark patina, open edge crack, weight 3.064 g, maximum diameter 18.1 mm, die axis 0o, Docimeium (Iscehisar, Turkey) mint, c. 55 A.D.(?); obverse NEPΩN KAIΣAP, bare-headed draped bust of young Nero right, countermark: bearded bust left in an oval punch; reverse Cybele standing facing, between two lions, both turned away from her, but looking back in anticipation, ΔOKI/MEΩN divided in two upward lines above lions; $110.00 SALE PRICE $99.00
 


Laodicea ad Lycum, Phrygia, 198 - 222 A.D.

|Laodicea| |ad| |Lycus|, |Laodicea| |ad| |Lycum,| |Phrygia,| |198| |-| |222| |A.D.||diassarion|
The Synedrion of the Neoi was a Greek city's organization young men, roughly 20 - 30 years old, who had completed their military training but who were not old enough to participate the city assembly, which was typically limited to "elders" over 30. The neaniskoi ("the boys") were organized around the gymnasia and had a range of military, political, social, and religious functions that varied by the city and over time.
RP112159. Bronze diassarion, RPC Online VI T5497; BMC Phrygia p. 299, 132; Martin Demos p. 215, 33; Imhoof-Blumer KM p. 275, 53; SNG Lewis 1610; c/m: Howgego 631 (PH) & 42 (bust), aF, dark brown patina, earthen deposits, holed, weight 6.909 g, maximum diameter 25.0 mm, die axis 180o, Laodicea ad Lycum (near Denizli, Turkey) mint, time of Caracalla to Elagabalus, 198 - 222 A.D.; obverse CYNEΔPIOY NEΩN (Synedrion of the Neoi), diademed and draped bust of the Synedrion of the Neoi left, holding two rods; countermarks: PH ligate (year 108 = 230/231 A.D.) in a 5.8mm round punch, bust of emperor right with CE or CEB before in 6.1 mm oval punch; reverse ΛAOΔIKEΩN NEΩKOPΩN, Hypnos-Thanatos or Eros reclining left on rocks, propping his head on his left hand, holding arrow(?) in his right hand; from Shawn Caza former diplomat, author of A Handbook of Late Roman Coins (Spink, 2021), collection assembled during postings and international travel; ex Dorotheum Vienna; very rare; $100.00 SALE PRICE $90.00
 


Claudius, 25 January 41 - 13 October 54 A.D., Cadi, Phrygia

|Other| |Phrygia|, |Claudius,| |25| |January| |41| |-| |13| |October| |54| |A.D.,| |Cadi,| |Phrygia||AE| |20|
Cadi (Gediz, Turkey) was near the sources of the Hermus at the foot of Mount Dindymus. Gediz suffered major earthquakes in 1866, 1896, 1944, and 1970. The 7.2 magnitude earthquake on 28 March 1970 killed 1,086 people and left 1,260 people wounded and many thousands homeless. The town was relocated after the destruction to a new place 7 km away under the name "Yeni Gediz" (Turkish: New Gediz).
RP112132. Bronze AE 20, RPC Online I 3062; SNG Cop 246; SNGvA3685; SNG Lewis 1523; BMC Phrygia p. 120, 18; c/m: Howgego 309, F, dark patina, weight 4.886 g, maximum diameter 19.9 mm, die axis 0o, Cadi (Gediz, Turkey) mint, stephanephoro Meliton Asklepiadou, c. 50 - 54 A.D.; obverse KΛAYΔIOC KAICAP (counterclockwise from lower right), laureate head right; countermark: Capricorn right in an oval punch; reverse EΠI MEΛITΩNOC ACKΛHΠIAΔOY (under authority of Meliton, son of Asklepiados), Zeus standing left, eagle in right hand, long scepter in left hand, CTEΦAN monogram (stephanephoros, magistrate title) in lower left field; from Shawn Caza former diplomat, author of A Handbook of Late Roman Coins (Spink, 2021), collection assembled during postings and international travel; ex Dorotheum Vienna; $80.00 SALE PRICE $72.00
 


Elagabalus, 16 May 218 - 11 March 222 A.D., Caesarea, Cappadocia

|Cappadocia|, |Elagabalus,| |16| |May| |218| |-| |11| |March| |222| |A.D.,| |Caesarea,| |Cappadocia||AE| |27|
Kayseri, originally called Mazaka or Mazaca, is in central Turkey on a low spur on the north side of Mount Erciyes (Mount Argaeus in ancient times). During Achaemenid Persian rule, it was the capital of a Satrapy on the crossroads of the Royal Road from Sardis to Susa and the trade route from Sinope to the Euphrates. It was conquered by Alexander's general Perdikkas, was ruled by Eumenes of Cardia, then passed to the Seleucid empire after the battle of Ipsus. It became the capital of the independent Cappadocian Kingdom under Ariarathes III, around 250 B.C. During Strabo's time it was also known as Eusebia, after the Cappadocian King Ariarathes V Eusebes, 163 – 130 B.C. The name was changed again to "Caesarea in Cappadocia" in honor of Caesar Augustus, upon his death in 14 A.D. The city passed under formal Roman rule in 17 A.D. In Roman times, it prospered on the route from Ephesus to the East. Caesarea was destroyed by the Sassanid King Shapur I after his victory over the Emperor Valerian I in 260 A.D. At the time it was recorded to have around 400,000 inhabitants. Arabic influence changed Caesarea to the modern name Kayseri. The city gradually recovered and has a population of around 1 million people today. Few traces of the ancient city survive.
RP112707. Bronze AE 27, Henseler 1062 (698d, notes otherwise unpublished var.), RPC Online VI T6703.26, Sydenham Caesarea p. 119, 522 (obv. leg. var.), F, dark green patina, some legend weak/off flan, porous, weight 12.451 g, maximum diameter 27.0 mm, die axis 315o, Cappadocia, Caesarea (Kayseri, Turkey) mint, 219 - 220 A.D.; obverse AY M AYPHΛIOC - ANTWNEINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind; countermark: head of Helios right (?, obscure, uncertain) in a 4.4mm round punch; reverse MHTPOΠO - KAICAPIAC, agalma of Mount Argaeus placed on garlanded altar, ET Γ (year 3) in exergue; $80.00 SALE PRICE $72.00
 




  



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REFERENCES

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