My First Ancient Countermark! - Byzantium on Philip III Drachm

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Marsyas Mike, Dec 29, 2017.

  1. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    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 cm Dec 2017 (2).JPG
    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 :nailbiting:):

    Byzantium cm Dec 2017 (8).JPG

    Hope you all are having a nice Holiday!
     
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    That's a cool countermark!

    102_5777_zps023406c4.jpg

    Here's a modern Spanish countermark mess, I really like these...multiple dates sometimes, even uglier than Byzantine coins, struck...cool!
     
  4. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    I dunno Chris... are you sure that is not a mashed 8-Ball?
    :)
     
    Marsyas Mike likes this.
  5. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    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:
    Spanish Cob (5).JPG



    Spanish Cob (1).JPG
     
    Bing, Johndakerftw and Alegandron like this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page