The countermark post!

You read right. One of the coolest and least understood symbols (along with so many monograms) is the countermarks on our ancient coins!
But few things can turn a slate into great, a dud into a stud a cull into rock n roll like a countermark.
A great way to revitalize a coin (and an economy) without having to spend the overhead on melting and then remaking a coin.
Not just the ancients though. From modern idiots to royalty, since back to the fifteen hundreds people have been countermarking their coins including their ancients.

(Loyd Christmas readying his dies)

Though, a nice countermark can actually add considerable allure (and value) to your ancients
Some of my favorites are below for your enlightenment and entertainment.

Here is a countermark hidden in plain site. And this coin has the added benefit of a Boetian shield on a coin from a Macedonian... doesn't that make it a Macedonian shield?:

Ptolemaic Kingdom. Ptolemy II Philadelphos (285-246 BC). AE Diobol, Alexandria mint. Head of Zeus-Ammon right. / ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings open, Σ / shield in left field, c/m: trident.. Lorber B166. AE. 14.15 g. 22.00 mm. Rare with trident countermark. About VF/Good F. Purchased from Artemide Kunstauktionen Jan 2021

Artemis looking beautiful with a lovely rose in the back of her hair:

CILICIA, Soloi. Circa 100-30 BC. Æ 21mm (7.81 g, 1h). Bust of Artemis right, bow and quiver over shoulder; c/m: rose / Athena advancing right, brandishing thunderbolt and holding shield; monograms to left. SNG France 1189 var. (monograms); SNG Levante 860 var. (same). Purchased from Dara October 2021

At first site the countermark and coin itself aren't very appealing, but if you zoom in and flip your screen upside-down you'll see a most stunning eagle on the shield side of the coin:

LYDIA. Apollonis. (Circa 2nd-1st centuries BC)
AE Bronze (20,8mm., 4g.)
Macedonian shield, decorated with central star and four stars around. Countermark w/ Eagle wings spread. Rare
ΑΠΟΛΛΩ / ΝΙΔΕΩΝ.
Club right.
SNG von Aulock -; SNG Copenhagen 16; BMC -; SNG München 32; Lindgren II 154. Purchased from Lydia Numismatics July 2021


How often do you see an axe attacking a thunderbolt of Zeus!?



Kids from Pergamon clearly were used to their big brother and sisters hand me downs as they have a load of these countermarked owls:

Philetairus
Mysia (van Alfen type 2) Kingdom of Pergamon
282-263 BC Bronze, with countermark: owl. Head of Athena with Attic Helmet / Serpent of Asclepius. SNG BN 1650 ff. 2.99 g .; Nice
Secret Saturlanlia gift


Yes, yes you can 1000% blame this thread on this stinging beauty:

Pisidia. Termessos Major circa 100-0 BC.
Bronze Æ
22 mm, 4,22 g
fine


Augustus with Divus Julius Caesar
(27 BC-14 AD) MACEDON. Thessalonica. Obv: ΘEOΣ.
Wreathed head of Julius Caesar right; uncertain c/m on neck.
Rev: ΘEΣΣAΛONIKEΩN.
Bare head of Augustus right; Δ below. RPC I 1554.
Fine. 12.3 g.21 mm.
Former: Numismatik Naumann
The D has been interpreted as either a denomination mark (four assaria) or, more likely, a date - year four of the Actian era (28/7 BC). The ligate NK monogram has been generally accepted as a reference to Nero (Nerwn Kaisar). This is problematic considering that Thessalonica had abundant coinages issued under Claudius and Nero, such that countermarking these quite older coins would be unlikely. Touratsoglou (p. 105) follows Kraay's suggestion that the NK is an abbreviation for Nike (NiKh), and was applied to the coins during celebrations of the city's 50th anniversary of its grant of liberty by the Romans. All but two of the known specimens of this countermark occur on the coins of this first issue of Thessalonica, and the wear on the countermarks is nearly identical to that of the coins, suggesting that the countermarks could not have been applied very long after the coins entered circulation.

This coin always song bombs me with

As it appears Germanicus and Drusus look like they are sitting in the front of a car cruising

Germanicus and Drusus
LYDIA, Sardes (... or maybe not), Struck CE 23-26?
restruck by Asinius Pollio, proconsul of Asia under Caligula, CE 37-38? Æ26, 13.78 gm
Obv: ΔPOYΣOΣ KAI ΓEPMANIKOΣ NEIOI ΘEOI ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOI; Germanicus and Drusus seated left on curule chairs, one holding lituus.
Rev: ΓAIΩ AΣINNIΩ ΠΩΛΛIΩNI ANΘYΠATΩ; KOINOY/ AΣIAΣ within wreath
Ref: RPC 2995, Sear 365

And a really cool slug as you cannot make out anything, at all, on the coin but for the coming storm of the, "Populus Romanus":

PR=Populus Romanus
- The Roman People. AE 24.2 MM, 6.5 gr. This countermark was used by the rebels in Gaul under the leadership of Julius Vindex during the months of March through June of 68 CE. Used mostly upon dupondii and Asses. Coin appears intentionally slate as these were known to deface and denounce the current powers that be.
Ex: CNG


So, yeah. Please post your countermarks and the meaning or theories behind them. Pile em on if you got em

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Your new Termessos double Bee c/m coin is the bomb the bee's knees . That owl c/m is so large it almost like an overstrike:.

I don't have many c/m'd coins but do have two of the ring die overstrikes. Still lacking the unrestruck version, which are harder to find.




LYDIA, Sardes (... or maybe not)
Germanicus and Drusus
Struck CE 23-26?
restruck by Asinius Pollio, proconsul of Asia under Caligula, CE 37-38?
Æ26, 13.78 gm
Obv: ΔPOYΣOΣ KAI ΓEPMANIKOΣ NEIOI ΘEOI ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOI; Germanicus and Drusus seated left on curule chairs, one holding lituus.
Rev: ΓAIΩ AΣINNIΩ ΠΩΛΛIΩNI ANΘYΠATΩ; KOINOY/ AΣIAΣ within wreath
Ref: RPC 2995, Sear 365
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-puzzling-provincial-of-germanicus-and-drusus.264079/

Here's c/m on a Not-Nektanebo:


SYRIA, uncertain
3rd century CE
AE11, 4.4 gm
Obv: Ram leaping left, head reverted
Rev: Scales; countermark with helmeted bust right
Ref: Butcher 11 (uncertain northern Syrian mint); formerly attributed to Nektanebo II of Egypt (Weiser 1 Nektanebo II)

And a c/m I still don't know much about on terrific coin from Cossura, featuring a coat hanger who has had enough (thanks for that accurate visual, @Ryro):


Islands off Sicily, Cossura
AE 25 mm, 10.07 gm
1st century BCE
Obv: Nike crowning bust of Isis to right; thymiaterion in field to right; REG counter-stamp to right
Rev: symbol of Tanit; COSSVRA below; all within wreath
Ref: Lindgren III, 37 (this coin); RPC 675. Calciati 6.
Ex: MM Germany, Stuttgart, James Joy collection, Auction 2007, lot 222
Ex: NAC, Zurich, Auction 64, 2012, lot 2157
Ex: Künker, Auction 318, 2019, lot 451

I remember bidding hard on a beautifully c/m'd Gortyna drachm in a CNG auction... and losing. Still wish I'd pushed a bit more. Behold the wonder:

 

WOW, @Ryro is having a Countermark Fever!!! VERY cool.

Agreed with @TIF ... I am a Beekeeper, and that DOUBLE-BEE countermark is really cool!

I have beau-coup bankers marks, but few countermarks...


Augustus As four countermarks 25-23 mm 9.8g TICA AVG probably for Tiberius Augustus CE14-37 Dolphin



Cilicia - Tarsos turret counterstamped Bow Pompey Pirates AE 19 164 BCE Tyche-Zeus seated
Ex: The Man Behind the Curtain, That Great Coin Wizard Himself: @John Anthony

 

Constantine I struck A.D. 312- 313 and countermarked as a Spanish 4 maravedis, circa 14-15th century.

 

COUNTERSTAMP


India Matsya
AR Vimsatika
650-600 BCE
counterstamped (rev)

 

Cool! I like countermarks, too, but I'm too busy accumulating Faustina coins that I haven't purchased one in a while.

Gotta have a bucranium:


Trajan. A.D. 98-117.
Roman orichalcum as, 8.49 g, 23.5 mm, 6 h.
Struck in Rome for circulation in Syria (?); Struck in Antioch (?), AD 115/16.
Obv: IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GERM, radiate and draped bust right; c/m: bucranium within incuse punch.
Rev: DAC PARTHICO P M TR POT XX COS VI P P around laurel wreath enclosing large SC.
Refs: RIC 647; BMCRE 1094; Cohen 123; RCV 3243; Woytek 937v; McAlee 509; Strack 479; BN 953-5. For c/m: Pangerl 63; Howgego 294.

Laurel branch:


Trajan, AD 98-117.
Roman Provincial Æ 29 mm, 15.86 g, 12 h.
Syria, Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch, AD 115-116.
Obv: ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙϹ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ΑΡΙϹΤ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚ, laureate head, right. Countermark: laurel branch in incuse rectangle, Howgego 378 (69 sp.).
Rev: S·C in laurel wreath; Є below.
Refs: RPC III 3616; cf. BMC 20, p. 185, 286 (with same countermark); Wruck 196; McAlee 489(e).

A circle surrounded by a triangle:


Severus Alexander AD 222-235.
Roman provincial Æ 24 mm, 9.19 g.
Cilicia, Seleukeia ad Kalykadnon.
Obv: AV K M AVP CEOVH AΛEΞANΔPOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Rev: CEΛEVKEΩN KAΛVΚA-ΔNΩ, confronted, draped, and laureate busts of Apollo and Artemis, c/m: o within Δ within triangular incuse.
Ref: Ziegler 474-476; SNG France 2 1009; SNG Levante 761; SNG Levante Suppl. 195; SNG Pfalz 1056-61; Waddington 4468; Lindgren III 898; RPC Online VI 7043. Countermark: Howgego 670.

Maybe an anchor????


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).

 

Oh, yeah. Forgot about that one. The nearly ubiquitous triangle c/m on coins from Calycadnum .


CILICIA, Seleucia ad Calycadnum. Gordian III
238-244 CE
Æ 27 mm, 11 gm
Obv: ...ΓOPΔIANO radiate and draped bust right; C/M dot within triangle (Howgego 670?)
Rev: CEΛEVKEΩN; Athena advancing right, holding her shield with her extended left arm & preparing to hurl a spear at an anguipede giant (Enceladus?) who is throwing stones at her.
Ref: c.f. SNG Levante 763
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-gigantomachy.283117/

 

Thanks for all the SPECTACULAR coins this far

Thanks and it and I resemble that remark

Ha! I have two too (just say as well like a normal human, Ryro):

(On this one it looks like Germanicus has his hand on Drusus thigh
I tell you though, tried to capture one that's not an overstrike and they are illusive
BTW I owe you a hundo for warning me of the "Nekta-not-bo" that at that time I was actively seeking thinking it was really a pre-Ptolemic Egyptian coin

She remembers
And in regards to that MASTERPIECE of a CM shoulda pushed harder
Rad bow @Alegandron
and I LOVE honey! If you ever find yourself with a surplus that you wanted to send my way, that would be a plus sir.
And what is that countermark on your Vimsatika? Looks like someone wearing a helmet
INCREDIBLE ancient coin and late ancient/modern countermark @Victor_Clark Just reeks of history. A coin that I could hold in my hand and stare at for an entire night of scotch drinking

 

An earlier (unbearded bust) and later (bearded) tet of Kamnaskires IV of Elymais, who reigned from c. 63/2 – 54/3 BC. The coin with the bearded portrait is dated SE 255 (58/7 BC). Both have Nike countermarks to the right of the bust. As Pieter Anne van’t Haaff speculated, “a possible explanation for the countermark is that Kamnaskires IV had it applied to coins currently in circulation to celebrate his recapture of Susa from the Parthians.”

 

Victor, I think this type of coin is the most interesting of all countermarked pieces. It's insane to think that 1200 years later, coins were still circulating at a marked face value! I can't imagine the circumstances that would lead to this happening today.

When I first saw one of the 4-maravedis countermarked coins, I thought the IIII represented a tetrastyle temple. I thought that they were the ancient equivalent of pressed pennies, where you go to Temple X and you pay X sestertii to get your coin stamped with the temple's facade.
Very wishful thinking, and shows what I know.


I don't collect countermarks, but some folks here are extremely specialized. A different breed, for sure.


I like this countermark. I forget what the mark itself is, but I like it because it makes the portrait look like it has a ram's horn helmet!

 

I also have a Gallienus with the same countermark

 

Now why would a follis have the same buying power as an antoninianus???

 

That is an impressive array of countermarks, @Ryro and many others throughout this thread. I poked through my 2021 finds and here are a couple of them:


Seleucid Kingdom Æ 15
Seleukos II Kallinikos
n.d. (246-226 B.C.)
Head of Herakles right, wearing lionskin / BA[ΣIΛEΩΣ] [ΣEΛ]EYKO[Y], Apollo, naked, seated left on omphalos, holding arrow & bow [monogram left?].
SC 657 type.
(3.68 grams / 15 mm)
eBay June 2021
Countermarks:
Countermark 1: Seleucid anchor in 5 x 4 mm rectangle
Countermark 2: Caduceus in 6 x 5 mm rectangle both on reverse, obliterating most of Apollo.
Identical countermarks: CNG E Auction 200, Lot 71, 3 December 2008.


Elagabalus Æ 18
(c. 218-222 A.D.)
Samaria, Neapolis
[AVTKMAVP] ANTωNINOC, laureate draped & [cuirassed?] bust r. / [Φ]Λ NEACΠ[OΛEΩ CYP Π], Mt. Gerizim, temple, stairway, colonnade, etc.
cf. SNG ANS 6 997 ff.; Rosenberger III 36 ff.
(9.84 grams / 18 mm)
eBay May 2021
Countermark: Incuse A in 3 mm square obverse. Howgego 666, (37 pcs).
Attribution Note: Host coin is difficult to pin down; several varieties but many vague or contradictory online citations.
Numista goes with this:
SNG ANS 997-1005; Rosenberger 37-39 (but Ros. 36 in a FORVM sale is similar).

This one is dreadful - it was a surprise in an undescribed eBay lot, and I'll take scorpions anyway I can get them:


Kingdom of Commagene Æ 25
Iotape (Antiochus IV consort)
(c. 66-72 A.D. - Straight Edge)
Samosata Mint
BA[ΣIΛIΣΣA IΩTAΠH ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOΣ], diademed and draped bust right / KOMMAΓHNΩN, around scorpion, all within laurel wreath.
RPC I 3858; BMC Iotape 4.
(15.72 grams / 25 x 24 mm)
eBay May 2021
Countermark: Countermark anchor (?), in 5-6 mm irregular circle or square. Howgego 372. Countermark is not entirely clear on this specimen. This issue often found countermarked with these:
Cornucopiae: Howgego 403
Anchor: Howgego 372


Seleucid Kingdom Æ 17
Antiochos I Soter
Aï Khanoum or Western Mint
n.d. (c. 281-261 B.C.)
Helmeted head of Athena right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕ[ΟΣ] - ΑΝΤΙΟ[ΧΟΥ], Nike advancing left, holding wreath and palm.
Countermark: Seleucid anchor, flukes upward, in 7 x 4 mm oval
(6.20 grams / 17 mm)
eBay Jan. 2021
Attribution Notes:
Spaer 245-7.
Agora Auction Sale 71, Lot 88 26.12.2017
https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4645452
SC 453 Shick Coins listing (VCoins)
eBay seller Attribution: Lindgren I 1766-7

 

@Ryro - that's quite a selection of countermarks and the pile-on thread adds more...(Gortyna, Spanish 4 maravedis, Elymais Nike!) here's a Helios countermark.

Facing Helios, c. 170s BC – non-Seleucid coinage, as with my tetradrachm from Pamphylia, Side, being re-authorized within the Seleucid kingdom after the Peace of Apameia. Alexander tetradrachms outnumbered coins of Side at the time.

More on these countermarks in my Notes: Between the Seleucid and Attalid Kingdoms

 

because the countermark assigns it a value.

 

I get that, but it seems odd for coins of vastly different sizes to be assigned the same value.

Would anybody in 2022 America accept a 10 cent coin as 1 dollar just because it was stamped as such?

 

the Constantine is 22mm and the Gallienus is 21mm

 

So I suppose the spanish counterstamped anything metallic and disc-shaped that was of a generic size? I guess that does the trick..

I was thinking of the full-size folles of the 25-28mm variety.

 

I've posted various owls with countermarks in the past. As an important coin used in trade throughout the eastern Mediterranean, and elsewhere, it is not unusual to see these coins with punch marks, test cuts and countermarks. Most of my countermarked owls are imitative. A coin with even a somewhat unusual appearance attracted the attention of test cutters and others who scrutinized these dubious coins, as well as regular issue coins.

I am finding that the more I research countermarks, and attempt to interpret them, the less I know. Some countermarks are poorly impressed, others suffer from deposits, corrosion or poor metal quality.

Here's one owl, imitative, possibly from Philistia, I believe, that has a Phoenician W, punched sideways due to limited space on Athena's cheek. Above it is a pelt-like counterstamp resembling what, I do not know at the present. I've seen this type of countermark before. I cannot correlate the apparent W to any city in the Levant, so I assume it is a merchant's or banker's initial.

17.0 gram




My most recent countermarked owl, a pharaonic owl, that I posted earlier, has a bold and clear pentagram, so there is little left for the imagination regarding that. What is the significance of the pentagram? I have seen it used in Phoenician coins dating to the early to middle 4th century BC, so it is possible that there is a link to this coin circulating in that kingdom at some point.

17.0 grams




Then, there are countermarks that incorporate an symbol or figure and character such as this owl, with rather grainy surfaces, which appears to have a figure facing right, arm extended above what seems to be a wave, very reminiscent of some Phoenician staters and shekels. Additionally there seems to be an Aramaic mem below the wave. Again, this is conjecture on my part, but is it a very interesting countermark to contemplate. Is this some sort of counterstamp allowing this owl to circulate within a jurisdiction?

17.1 grams



Finally, here's a 4th century BC imitation of an intermediate Athenian owl. The countermark on this coin, while quite clear, is still a puzzle for me, so if anyone has an idea on its nature, I'd appreciate the input.

ex Roma E-Sale 59, lot 146

17.05 grams




I have other coins with countermarks in the wings waiting to be deciphered. Assuming that I have sufficient brain reserves to tackle them, I'll proceed to do so.

 

Cool coins and great thread, @Ryro. I especially like the double bee.

I don't usually go out of my way to buy countermarked coins, but a few have crept into my collection anyway.


ATTICA, Aegina
AR Stater. 12.12g, 21.1mm. ATTICA, Aegina, circa 480-456 BC. SNG Cop 507. O: Sea turtle; [T shaped pattern of pellets on back]; Countermarks: Corinthian helmet and others. R: Large square incuse with skew pattern.

KINGDOM OF LYDIA. Kroisos.
AR Siglos. 5.31g, 19.1mm. LYDIA, Sardes, circa 560-546 BC. Rosen 663; SNG Kayhan 1024-1026. O: Confronted foreparts of a lion and a bull. R: Two incuse squares, one larger than the other; to left, countermark: head wearing crested helmet right.

MYSIA, Pergamon
AE20. 8.18g, 20mm. MYSIA, Pergamon, 190-133 BC. BMC 161. O: Laureate head of Asklepios right. R: AΣKΛHΠIOY ΣΩTHPOΣ, Serpent of Asklepios coiled around omphalos; c/m, owl standing.

There was this one that I did specifically buy for the countermarked, because I thought it was amusing that the coin had a bust of a young Herakles stamped over one of an old Herakles.


BITHYNIA, Herakleia Pontika
AE19. 4.63g, 19.5mm. BITHYNIA, Herakleia Pontika, circa 235-175 BC. SNG Stancomb 827 = Stancomb, Autonomous p. 21, 7a A4/P10, pl. 3, 35 (this coin); SNG BM Black Sea 1631; HGC 7, 489. O: Bearded head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress; c/m: head of young Herakles right. R: ΗΡΑΚΛΕΩ-TAN, lion prancing right; boukranion between forelegs, monogram above, club below.
Ex William Stancomb Collection, this coin published in Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain, Volume XI, The William Stancomb Collection of Coins of the Black Sea Region (Oxford, 2000), and also published in W.M. Stancomb, 'The Autonomous Bronze Coinage of Heraclea Pontica' (NC 169, 2009); acquired from William Veres, November 1987.