One of my favourite coins in my collection actually. Vespasian AR Denarius, 3.06g Ephesus Mint, 71 AD; Countermarked under Vespasian at Ephesus, circa 74-79 AD RIC 1431 (C). BMC 457. RSC 276. RPC 833 (14 spec.); c/m: GIC 839 Obv: IMP CAESAR VESPAS AVG COS III TR P P P; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.; c/m: IMP·VES (ligate) Rev: PACI AVGVSTAE; Victory, draped, advancing r., holding wreath extended in r. hand and palm over l. shoulder. EPHE lower r. Acquired from Ancient Imports, November 2016. An exceptionally rare appearance of a Vespasian countermark on a denarius struck for Vespasian. Of course the coin does not require any such countermark, therefore it is a remarkable mint error.
Julia Iotape, Queen of Commagene AD 38 - 72 AE diassarion, 23.4 mm, 13.64 g, 12 h Syria, Commagene, Samosata mint Obv: ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΑ ΙΩΤΑΠΗ ΦΙΛΑ∆ΕΛΦΟΣ, diademed and draped bust of Iotape, right; countermark: anchor? Rev: ΚΟΜΜΑΓ−ΗИΩИ, scorpion and inscription all within laurel wreath Refs: Lindgren-Kovacs 1887; RPC I 3858; BMC Galatia p. 109, 4; Nercessian AC --; SNG Cop VII 5; similar to Sear GIC 5514 (which has lunate sigmas in the inscription). Here's a better image of the countermark:
This large counter mark on young Dionysus is definitely not listed IMHO. It represents Artemis. The coin was struck in Apameia-Syria as a civic or semi-autonomous issue,circa 20 BC. Reverse has thyrsos. Also the head of Dionysus is wreathed with ivy.
That countermark is the head of Tyche. Note the turreted crown, which is emblematic of Tyche. The OP happened to post this same type of coin (with the same countermark) earlier today: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/seleucis-pieria-countermarked.315292/
I wish I knew what the countermark on the reverse was...any guesses? ACHAEMENID KINGDOM OF PERSIA. UNCERTAIN KINGS, about 500-380 BCE Siglos, silver ("dagger type"). AR 16 MM5.52 g. The Great King running r., wearing kidaris, holding bow in his outstretched l. hand, dagger in his r. hand. Rv.Countermarked Rectangular incuse. Babelon, Perses pl. 2, 26. SNG Cop. 284.Rare. Previous: Savoca Coin
If you haven't already looked there, scroll down this Forvm page to find a handy dandy visual guide to the countermarks of Persian sigloi http://www.forumancientcoins.com/NumisWiki/view.asp?key=siglos I took a quick look and didn't see your mark but maybe I just overlooked it. There are bunches of them.
One of my favorites is this barbarous sestertius of Claudius which was certified as suitable for continued circulation as a dupondius by the c/m DV. The most common and popular c/m of that period is NCAPR here on Claudius and Nero Claudius Drusus sestertii. Both Augustus and Tiberius issued asses from Lugdunum with the altar reverse. This one is a coin of Augustus updated with a c/m of Tiberius TIB C A F (Tiberius, of Caesar Augustus the son). Most cool of all Julio-Claudian countermarks is the Koinon of Asia ring that changed the magistrates around the images of Germanicus and Drusus seated and wreath reverse. Mine is a terrible example. While the above is what I call most cool, harder to find is the same coin without the countermark.
The Forvm list also lacks my owl Another region rife with interesting countermarks is Phoenicia. Aspendos with the bull of Ba'al (Aramaic for Ba'al is Luy). Another Aspendos with Janiform head
Ok @kolyan760 , everyone is showing THEIRS; how 'bout you showing YOURS??? COUNTERMARKS: It seems the TYCHE countermark is out there on several coins that I have seen... LOL, but MY Tyche gets a countermark slammed on IT. Cilicia - Tarsos turret counterstamped Bow Pompey Pirates AE 19 164 BCE Tyche-Zeus seated Here is one I got from @Valentinian . I had been reading about old, worn-out coins being retarrifed in later ancient times by the Legions so they could have some pocket-change. (Harl, Coinage in the Roman Economy). I need to research this one... I know of some earlier posts about TICA, and this one looks like a whale (that would be cool) or dolphin on the reverse. Not sure of the AW G, or AVG with three separate stamps... RI Augustus with four countermarks 25-23mm 9.84 g TICA Head AVG dolphin in rect Said to be From the Balkans BANKERS MARKS: I have several coins with them, and I really do not think too much of them, other than they actually PROVE a coin (and I like that). Here are a couple: Attica Owl 16.8g 22x6-5mm RImp Marc Antony 32-31 BCE AR Legio X Equestris - Caesar Denarius B bankers mark Eagle Galley Standards Persian Achamenid Type III spear over shoulder Darius I to Xerxes II Ca 485-420 BCE AR Siglos Bankers Marks Incuse rev Egypt Ptolemy I Soter Tet Delta bankers marks India Matsya AR Vimsatika 650-600 BC stamped bankers mark
While not counterstriked or countermarked. There is a C/S control mark on this coin of Constantine the Great, which is very interesting. Might I also add that it was struck with clashed dies?
Awesome! Thanks @TIF ! I think #30 is a match...though I don't know what it signifies. Through this link I also learned that my coin is from around the time of Darius III. From who's utter ruin helped ensure he greatness of Alexander. Very cool!
Hmm, I think it looks more like #106 or 107 (a bucranium?) but they aren't quite the same. Anyway, sounds like something to keep in the back of your mind whenever you come across other sigloi. Maybe you'll find others with this mark and maybe someone else will have an idea what it is. My first thought about your c/m was trophy, second though pomegranate. Probably neither .
Vespasian in the OP looks like a some of the people at the concerts I used to regularly attend, what with all the neck-tattooed people who show up to hardcore punk shows.
@TIF What a coincidence with the OP ? It's an unusual LARGE C/M. The main question is whether this counter marked coin is listed anywhere in any reference.
Here's one I haven't been able to figure out. In fact nobody has been able to shed any light on it... CN PLANCIVS AED CVR SC Head of Macedonia right, wearing causia Cretan goat standing right, bow and quiver behind IIZ chiseled? in exergue Rome 55 BC 3.46g Sear 396, RRC 432/1
My only counter marked ancient. It also has a test cut, is very chunky in hand and it's awesome! PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos. AR Stater, 22mm, 10.78g, 12h; c. 380/75-330/25 BC. Obv.: Two wrestlers grappling; ΦK between, below Rev.: Slinger in throwing stance right; EΣTFEΔIIYΣ to left, counterclockwise triskeles of legs to right; lion countermark in lower right field.