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Judaea, Countermark of Legio X Fretensis, 84 - 135 A.D.
The galley was an emblem of Legio X Fretensis. Legio X Fretensis was founded in 41 or 40 B.C. by Octavian to end Sextus Pompeius' occupation of Sicily, which endangered Rome's the grain supply. The new legion received its number in honor of Caesar's tenth legion, disregarding that the original 10th legion was in the army of Octavian's fellow-triumvir and rival Mark Antony. There are other examples of duplicate legion numbers, so this was not unusual. The new legion received its surname Fretensis, meaning "of the sea straits," because it guarded the Straits of Messina and was active during the battles at Mylae and Naulochus, thus the galley.JD23251. Bronze AE 18, cf. Sofaer p. 275, 8 (head / galley countermarks, but Howgego 119 vice Howgego 135, both heads), weight 6.642g, maximum diameter 18.4mm, dountermarks applied from 84/5 - 132/5 A.D.; obverse worn smooth, countermarked with laureate(?) head right in a rectangular punch, 4 x 4.5 mm, cf. Howgego 135 (28 pcs, likely of Palestinian origin); reverse worn smooth, countermarked with galley in a rectangular punch, 6 x 4 mm, Howgego 409 (22 pcs, emblem of Legio X Fretensis); SOLD
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