I finally got my first ancient countermark coin. The only reason I bid on it was because I found a similar example sold on Forvm, with this description: "The Π in the countermark is a local archaic form of the letter B used at Byzantium. David Sear notes, "at this time [when the counter mark was applied after c. 280 B.C.], the Byzantines were subject to continual threats by Gaulish invaders, who were bought off by the payment of huge annual tributes. The impoverished city had to resort to countermarking foreign coins in place of a proper currency." GS58875. Silver drachm, Price 1499, c/m: SGCV 1585 (Byzantium, after c. 280 B.C.)..." Mine is on a drachm of Philip III Arrhidaios (I think). The Forvm listing photo looked a lot like this one, but provided no description - I am guessing on "ship's prow." Any other info or examples would be greatly appreciated. Byzantium - Countermark on Macedonian Kingdom Philip III Arrhidaios drachm Kolophon? (c. 323-319 B.C.) Countermark: after 280 B.C. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion-skin. cm: ΠU over ship's prow (?) / FILIPPOU Zeus seated left, monogram left. SCGV 1585 (countermark) (4.00 grams / 17 mm) I used to be a pretty enthusiastic collector of modern countermarks/counterstamps and chopmarks. But like I said, I never had an ancient before. Below is a sample from this modern collection (yeah, you can make fun of that Azores crowned GP on a US half dollar, but I've looked at a lot of these and I really do have some faith it is not a fake ): Hope you all are having a nice Holiday!
That's a cool countermark! Here's a modern Spanish countermark mess, I really like these...multiple dates sometimes, even uglier than Byzantine coins, struck...cool!
Nice! Two dates - rather hard to find those. But Alegandron is right, it does look a bit like a mashed 8-ball. But it is an attractive example of one of these. I only have two of these Spanish cobs - I wish I had more. Here is a 1641 countermark on a 1604 host - 'VIII' in lieu of '8'' - and pretty ugly: