Lydia, Sardes (Apollo / Oak Wreath) coins are rather common so I rarely give them a second look. However these two were so "odd" I had to purchase them. They both have very abnormal depressions on the obverse portrait and an almost molten / melted appearance on the reverse. The coins don't have any indication of bronze disease so I have eliminated that. The abnormalities are smooth and have the same patina as the coin so it appears that they occurred when the coins were manufactured. I believe these coins were cast in moulds and that these abnormalities are due to a mint error; what do you think? Province, City: Lydia, Sardes Denomination: AE 15 Mint: Sardes (133 BC) Obverse: Head of Apollo right Reverse: (ΣΑ)ΡΔΙ-(Α)ΝΩΝ, club, TA monogram, all within oak wreath References: BMCG 22.239.17; SNG Tuebingen 3774; SNG von Aulock 3126; GRPC Lydia 54 Province, City: Lydia, Sardes Denomination: AE 14 Mint: Sardes (133 BC) Obverse: Head of Apollo right Reverse: ΣΑΡΔΙ-ΑΝΩΝ, club, monogram, all within oak wreath References: BMCG 22.239.19; SNG Tuebingen 3774; SNG von Aulock 3126; GRPC Lydia 54
To me it looks like some kind of an overstrike or possibly countermark (albeit a crude one). I looked in MacDonald's book on Overstruck Greek Coins and quickly in the Greek Overstrikes Database, but I don't see anything similar. (At least not as the overstriking coin, in the G.O.D., but this looks more like it's the undertype.) It's especially interesting to have a pair of them. Multiple datapoints, of course, give you a much better chance of working out what's happening.
I think your both right, looks like an incuse overstrike or possibly a countermark. It's really odd since most incuse designs are square with 2 or 4 depressions and this is circular. The obverse also appears to have some type of overstrike in the center. The only Lydia coins that have incuse designs are not a match as they typically have 2 depressions. A countermark is also a possibility although they are typically small designs and not an incuse depression. The toning is what's odd as it's consistent over the face of the coin which suggest that these depressions were made when the coins were manufactured and not later therefor reinforcing the idea over it being an incuse overstrike. Definitely an ancient mystery or to much wine.
UPDATE: Mystery finally solved. I spent some time doing further research on why these coins were countermarked with these odd punches. In 133 BC Attalus III of Pergamon died and bequeathed his kingdom to Rome. Therefore control of Lydia, including Sardes, suddenly shifted from Hellenistic royal administration to Roman provincial control. This left most new minting and existing currency in limbo until the mints could be converted. With no Roman provincial mint structure, no standardized civic countermark iconography, and no clear tariff system for bronze coinage they improvised and just used a simple circular punch to revalidate the coinage.
