Constantine II campgate from Trier with unusual punch mark

The reverse of this coin has a small circular punch in the right field. It was struck hard enough that it made a raised area on the obverse to the left of the chin. I have seen similar punches on Indian coinage; but typically much earlier than this coin was struck. Maybe it has no significance at all. It also has patina and a bit of green indicating it was not done recently.



Constantine II
A.D. 324- 325
AE nummus 17x19mm 2.7g
CONSTANTINVS IVN NOB C; Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust left.
PROVIDENTIAE CAESS; campgate, two turrets, no doors, ✶ above.
In ex. STR
RIC VII Trier 455

 

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How neat, interesting addition, Victor.

 

Great eye appeal.

 

The punch also looks a lot like the O in the obverse legend. Punches were used for the letters; but this was done on the dies, not the planchet. Perhaps, a bored mint worker (I'm looking at you Octavius!) punched an O on an already struck coin for some reason...his initial or a friends.

 

One can see on the obverse, below Constantine II's chin, where the punch was applied on the reverse. Therefore, I think it could be either a test punch or a civic marker.
A chisel or punch was driven through a coin to expose the interior metal to verify it was not plated, cast or lead-filled. This was more often done on silver coins, and occasionally on bronze coins during times of crisis.