A Very Cool Countermarked Coin

Every once in a while a coin comes along that is something quite special. I believe this is one of those coins.


Vespasian (Countermarked)
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.

In the mid to late 70's AD, Ephesus stamped older, worn Republican and early Imperial denarii circulating in the region with the IMP·VES countermark. Here is an exceptionally rare appearance of that Vespasian countermark on a denarius struck for Vespasian. I know of less than half a dozen other Vespasianic denarii similarly stamped. Of course the coin does not require any such countermark, therefore it is a remarkable mint error. RPC speculates that these countermarked coins represent a later 'issue' of silver from Ephesus struck sometime after 74 and before Vespasian's death in 79.

While researching this coin, I found some interesting information about the countermark on the CNG website:"This countermark appears mostly on late Republican and Imperatorial denarii, although denarii of Augustus and denarii of the Flavians struck at Ephesus are also recorded. The MP VES countermarks circulated specifically within the province of Asia Minor. Martini noted that the output of silver coinage in relation to the civic bronze for this region was much smaller during the Julio-Claudian period. This suggests the denarii were countermarked to validate locally circulating silver coinage at an acceptable weight while the regional mints opened by Vespasian were gearing up production, a theory which the countermarking of cistophori with the contemporary MP VES AVG countermarks seems to support. The similarly countermarked Flavian denarii struck at Ephesus can be accounted for then as examples accidentally countermarked by unobservant mint workers during the transition. A denarius of Vespasian (Classical Numismatic Group 45 [18 March 1998], lot 1965), dated to the emperor's fourth consulship (72-73 AD) and countermarked MP VES, suggests a starting date of 74 AD for this countermark's use."

The minor quibble I have with the above theory for the countermarking is the fact that the Ephesian issues of denarii were struck before 74, the terminus post quem for the countermarking. What regional mints were 'gearing up production' in the mid to late 70's for silver? Cappadocia? The scarce 'o' mint? Perhaps the countermarked coins simply supplemented the coinage already in circulation and were not meant to fill any 'gaps' in coin production.

Kevin Butcher also wrote about this particular countermark on the 'Coins at Warwick' blog. http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/numismatics/entry/a_countermarked_denarius/

At any rate, it's a fantastically rare one of a kind coin that comes with an intriguing numismatic mystery.

Feel free to post any cool countermarked coins you have!

 

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A great addition to your collection. Thanks for the interesting writeup.

 

Great coin David! Awesome that the C/M did not flatten details on the reverse very much.

 

Love it David. Your Flavian collection must be truly awesome.

 

Yea, I got luck there. Also, I'm thankful the mint workers stamping the countermark did not obliterate the portrait!

 

Thanks Bing. It's humbly coming along.

 

I hope it doesn't tell, but I spent more time on researching this piece than most others. Sheepishly, I'll admit countermarks were not something I have really investigated in depth until now.

 

This one is countermarked and Flavian, so it should definitely fit here! 1st century Roman bronzes were rediscovered in 6th century Gothic Italy, and it is thought that they were either taken to a mint to be countermarked, or that the finders themselves applied the numerals. An alternate theory is that these were countermarked in North Africa, during the time of the Vandal Kingdom. But the vast majority have been found in Italy.

Domitian, Roman Empire (revalued under the Ostrogothic Kingdom)
AE as/42 nummi
Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS II, laureate head left, countermark XLII (42) in left field
Rev: VICTORIA AVGVST, Victory advancing right, standing on prow, holding wreath and palm branch, S-C across fields
Mint: Rome (struck 73-74 AD; revalued 498-526 AD)
Ref: RIC 677

 

Oh wow, that is really something that a Flavian coin was still in circulation over 400 years later!

Forgive my ignorance, do you know how the c/m was applied? It looks like it was directly engraved.

 

Yeah, to me they look engraved as well.

I've also seen a Justinian coin from Ravenna overstruck on a bronze of Marcus Aurelius. I don't own it but I had a photo of it I found online but I lost it when my computer offed itself, and a search to find it again has been unsuccessful.

 

Very cool David.


Only counter makered coin I have worth posting


Ptolemy II AE 27 mm. Head of Zeus, laureate, right / Eagle l., wings open; to l., shield; inscription. Trident countermark (Cyprusca. 265 BC.)

 

That's awesome!! => fantastic OP-counter-stamped winner!!

I love counter-stamped coins ... I have a few myself (wanna see 'em?)

 

... counter-stamped coins are so fricken cool, eh? (man, I love ancient coins!)

 

very cool

 

Forgot this one

 

I couldn't have said it any better. Counterstamps sure can take you down many untrodden paths ...

Great c/ms Steve!

 

Nice write-up. The location of the stamp is interesting.
I bought this Greek coin because I liked the countermark. I know little about this one. If someone does, please post what you know. It looks like a crescent with 3 or 4 dots.




the seller's pic

 

I love these specialized coins you seem to find.

 

Me too.

A countermarked coin is something you can't plan on, being unique and all. It was sheer luck that I came across it.