In order to relieve the pervasive coin shortage ..... TYPICAL CALIGULA AGRIPPA NEPTUNE AS WITH CLAUDIUS COUNTERMARK Agrippa Obverse & Neptune reverse As BMCRE, Vol I, Tiberius, No. 168 (RIC, Vol I, No. 58) Plate 26 Reverse: Claudius Countermark TIAV (A and V ligatured) in oblong incuse over head of Neptune "In hand" enlargement of countermark: Neptune reverse As, BMCRE, Vol I, Tiberius, No. 168 (RIC, Vol I, No. 58) Plate 26 Reverse: Claudius Countermark TIAV in oblong incuse over head of Neptune Mattingly lists TIAV as the usual Countermark employed by Claudius for these coins. They were issued for extended circulation in Britain by Claudius following his Victory there. These were the common Roman denominations used as legal tender in Britannia - evidently for a very long time, for many are found in very worn condition. TYPICAL CLAUDIUS TRIUMPHAL ARCH SESTERTIUS WITH NERO COUNTERMARK Nero also Countermarked and issued Claudius aes coinage in order to extend the supply of money in Britain after the death of Claudius. BMCRE, Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 123, 41-45AD (35mm, 22.3gm) Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing right Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP Countermarked NCAPR in oblong incuse rectangle behind head (unknown mark on head) Reverse depiction: Triumphal arch surmounted by equestrian statue of Nero Claudius Drusus Inscription: NERO CLAVDIVS DRVSVS GERMAN IMP Enlargement of NCAPR countermark: This coinage was usually countermarked NCAPR - which is interpreted different ways by collectors and researchers, with the most popular and frequently used interpretations being Nero Caesar Augustus Probavit or Nero Caesar Augustus Populo Romano. This coin was well struck and centered. Likewise, the countermark is well struck and correctly positioned. I believe this to be a coin originally produced at the Rome mint.
