This coin is allegedly bearing a countermark of the notorious Varus (defeated and killed in 9 AD by the German in the in the Kalkriese forest : OCTAVIAN AND ZENODORVS, Head of Zeodorus12 l, "ZHNOΔ"..Rev.: Octavian head r..countermark “VAR".monogram of Qvintillvs Varvs, then Proconsular governor of Syria.Chalkis. AE21.(6.30gr.) gF. S5899, SNG.Cop.417, RPC.4775, BMC.7, Howgego 659, Lindgren III #1249. (countermark of Varus according to Lindgren and RPC). Fine, rare, historically interesting, following the death of Cleopatra,Zendoros son of Lysanias (who had been executed by Marc Antony) was allowed to return to his fathers’s kingdom. In 24 BC, however, he lost part of his dominions when Augustus handed them over to Herod the Great. Any other such coin or countermark a would be welcome. updated 14.07.2016
For obvious reasons, I've always been interested in adding a coin associated with that Varus to my collection...but haven't to date. I think @Alegandron has one.
Congrats @PMONNEY ! I really like the countermark! I am always interested in Countermarks and Bankers' marks. I lucked into this one. It is not a sharp detailed purdy coin, but it does represent this guy: Roman Empire Publius Quinctilius Varus 5-4 BCE AE 20mm 8.0g Tetrachalkon Zeus Tyche Orontes Antioch Yr ZK RPC 4252 SNG Cop 92
