Need help identifying countermark on Alexander

I've looked through all the google search results, and havent found any that look like a match. I also did not see any countermarks that look so fine, which has me a tad concerned. The only other source for information on this subject is from a rare book that costs $100 to buy.

This posthumous Alexander III tetradrachma originates from Caria, Alabanda (188-156 BC) according to its NGC slab.



(no countermark on reverse)

 

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Thank you! Just picked it up from a coin show today. I love it too. And the couple who owned the booth I bought it from were wonderful people, which was a nice bonus!

 

outstanding coin!

 

That is very cool.

What does the reverse look like? Was it damaged (flattened) by the countermarking process?

 

I'd have to wonder if the slab graded the coin (F) or the C/M (MS?). That is a wonderful coin. On a soft silver 4dr, I would expect the reverse to have a completely blanked spot. I can't call it a fault when the flat spot falls on Zeus' backside as with the Seleucid anchor below but the same c/m placed opposite Zeus' head would bother me a lot more.

 

Welcome @HBrider. Very nice obverse, but I would love to see the reverse as well. BTW, I don't think I've seen such a clear counter-mark before. Excellent. But I'm sorry, I can't add anything of value about the CM.

 

Speaking of Zeus' head: This Stratonicaea AE38 with Caracalla and Plautilla has a wonderful strike of a countermark at obverse bottom at the price of a completely flattened spot on reverse top (6H axis) removing heads of Zeus and his horse. Some we lose.....

 

Very cool and well struck counter mark on your AIII Tet @HBrider ! And welcome to the Ancients Forum of Coin Talk.

This is my only counter mark:


Cilicia - Tarsos turret counterstamped Bow Pompei Pirates AE 19 164 BCE Tyche-Zeus seated
Absconded from The Wonderful Wizard of CT: @John Anthony

 

PAMPHYLIA SIDE
Æ16
OBVERSE: Head of Athena right, in crested Corinthian helmet, winged thunder bolt countermark
REVERSE: SIDHTWN, Nike advancing left, holding wreath; pomegranate to left
Struck at Side, 2d-1st Century BC
2.72g, 16mm
SNG Cop 408, BMC 66

ANTIGONOS GONATAS, King of Macedonia
AE 19
OBVERSE: Head of Athena right in crested Corinthian helmet
REVERSE: BA above, ANTI monogram below, Pan advancing right, erecting trophy
Struck at Macedonia, 277-239 BC
4.58g, 19mm
Lindgren III, 105, Sear #6786 (var)
Countermarked on obverse

 

I have Howgego's "Greek Imperial Countermarks" which is does not have the countermark because it is not a Greek imperial countermark. I also have "The Ancient Countermarks" six-part The Numismatist article by Gregory Brunk and it is not in it associated with Caria. However, the article has 1173 countermarks, the great majority not illustrated, so I might have missed it.

 

Welcome, HBrider => wow, I love that coin (especially the countermark)

It's a total winner (super jealous)

 

Price p. 310, 2463b.

 

One of the clearest and most detailed countermarks i have ever seen.

 

Me too !! What a truly lovely coin!!

 

It's not too unusual for countermarks not to be in any way associated with the source-area of the coin to which they were applied. They generally were used to extend the area of currency and acceptability for various coins of acceptable fineness and weight from other areas (or the period of acceptability within the coins' original areas). This Tyche C/M looks a lot like something I'd expect to see from the "greater Levant" - "Holy lands", Phoenecia, Syria, Cilicia, Mesopotamia, etc.
It is exceptionally clear and nice - I don't think I've ever seen such a large and clear Tyche head C/M on anything - almost to the point where it might make sense to at least ask a question about its authentic antiquity - C/M's can be applied anytime after a coin is minted - including last Tuesday.

 

Here is the obverse:



I have been thinking about making this a pendant. Its humble grade (Fair) and larger size might lend itself to that. Would love for more people to see it. But of course i'd like to possibly learn more about the countermark before i'd take it out of the slab. I will enjoy it regardless!

Thank you for the welcomes and compliments

 

Welcome to CoinTalk, @HBrider Cool coin, wonderful countermark (it's Tyche). It's particularly nice that the countermark is of the same alignment as Herakles so you can view them both "right side up". The placement of the countermark is also good (doesn't destroy anything critical).

Your coin was not in a slab when it sold in CNG's e-auction 388, December 14, 2016. I guess the buyer hoped to make a quick profit by entombing the coin in a TPG slab. Did it work? My casual observation is that ancient coins which get an "AU" or "MS" label often bring higher prices when slabbed (although the people buying those might be new converts to ancients) and coins which are labeled lower than "AU" can often be a bargain because the Grade-Is-King slab enthusiasts don't want them. Hopefully you got a bargain

https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=326662


CARIA, Alabanda. Circa 185-173 BC. AR Tetradrachm (36mm, 16.22 g, 12h). In the name and types of Alexander III of Macedon. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin; c/m: head of Tyche right within incuse circle / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, Pegasos left; monogram below throne. Meadows, Alabanda, Series 3.2, Group 1; Price 2455. VF.

Side note: How often do we see a CNG grade lower than a TPG grade for the same coin? I don't remember seeing that before. CNG's grading is generally very conservative.

 

I hope you will decide to sell the coin to someone who would appreciate it and buy your jewelry elsewhere. It would seem a shame to destroy what so many people have said is the best example they have ever seen. Do you have a photo of the entire slab? I would love to see what they had to say about it.

I just found another reason I do not like slabs. They accepted the money to encapsulate this and grade it 'Fair' convincing its owner that the coin was only suitable to be turned into a bauble.

 

yes, welcome to CT darkside..(and we call that side the reverse)