Does anyone know about the history of Thracian coins like this one? I am curious as to when the counter marks were done. The coin was minted from what I gather about 275 BC. Ox: Head of Pan left, wreathed with ivy, countermarked with a star of 10 rays in circular incuse Rx: P-A-N legend, lion's head left overstruck with a bowcase, sturgeon left below
You should buy Overstruck Greek Coins by David MacDonald. Hardcover, about $29 new. I recall the answer being in there but I can't remember what it said. MacDonald's book isn't a breathtaking coffee table book listing the highlights of Greek coin art. The coins are nicer than average grade, and often uglier than average. As MacDonald points out "Overstruck coins are usually ugly. They are not popular with most collectors and, consequently, are avoided by many dealers." What makes this book wonderful is that the overstruck coins are used to jump into open questions on dating of ancient coins. MacDonald describes simply the currently accepted dating and why it might or must be wrong. He gives enough hints that I could follow the arguments without having to go look up stuff in other books. Because only 160 coins are discussed in nearly 300 pages there is enough room to give background on the coins. We get a lot more than whose on the front and a date range like "480-460". Each coin gets a quality discussion which tells us not just the the issue dates, but often tell us which expert proposed the dates and the historical events that begin or close the date range.
My hunch is that they were done under the reign of Mithradates VI Eupator who issued coins with stars and bows like this one. He seems to have switched maybe or merged some of the religious iconogarphy from pantheism to or with the sky/stars and the Dioscuri. Himself being born according to legend when a bright comet appeared. But this is only a guess and I am not sure if it is even in the realm of possibility?
I have MacDonald but I'm not at home at the moment. I'll look it up later tonight and see if he has anything more specific to say.
I do not have an answer for your question, but I have a coin with the same countermark: THRACE, PANTIKAPAION AE21 OBVERSE: Head of Pan left REVERSE: Roaring lion's head left; fish below Struck at Pantikapaion 400-300BC 5.3g, 21mm SNG BMC Black Sea 883
Nice Bing- the bow case is much clearer on yours. It appears on yours that the star is twelve spoked- I think mine is wrongly described as ten spoked.
The book looks interesting. Thanks for the recommendation. I have one on the way for about that price.
In addition to a normal one first below I have a cast made from a coin already bearing the c/m's. I bought it years ago as a pair with Bing's coin but never really followed up the matter. I believe they were found together according to the seller.
Curious... the countermark reminds me of the Makedon Sun that was on Philip II's grave. Thrace had always warred with Makedon, and was subjugated by them. Is this a Makedon countermark signifying this Thracian coin as being legit?
Maybe but in most cases it seems that the roaring lion on the rx is defaced by the countermark. Isn't the lion-skin also a symbol for Makedon-royalty? Maybe a counter mark was not seen as a defacement but it sure seems to be?
There are none I have found online anyway with a Rx as pretty as Bing's- with such a clear bow case. However this one here is the nicest Ox with the s tar being like a diadem for Pan.
