Interesting countermark on this one. Trajan, AD 98-117. Roman Provincial Æ 29 mm, 15.86 g, 12 h. Syria, Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch, AD 115-116. Obv: ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙϹ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟϹ ΑΡΙϹΤ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚ, laureate head, right. Countermark: laurel branch in incuse rectangle, Howgego 378 (69 sp.). Rev: S·C in laurel wreath; Є below. Refs: RPC III 3616; cf. BMC 20, p. 185, 286 (with same countermark); Wruck 196; McAlee 489(e). Notes: The Greek obverse inscription corresponds to the Latin IMP CAES NER TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GER DAC, in use on Imperial obverse inscriptions from AD 115-116.* According to Romancoins.info, this is one of a group of countermarks on eastern provincial coins with possible links to the legionary administration of the eastern frontier towards Persia. The countermark was applied before A.D. 132-135. Post anything you feel is relevant! *Mattingly, Harold. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum. Vol. III: Nerva to Hadrian, British Museum, 1966, p. lxiv.
That is a fine looking and interesting countermark, RC. Whenever I get a new countermark, I check out FORVM. I found two like yours (in case you haven't seen 'em yet) - Howgego 377 (similar) and yours 378: http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=546&pos=234 http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=546&pos=235
That "Automan" collector on FORVM has an awesome collection of countermarks - and his descriptions are loaded with detail. He really knows his stuff. I hope he joins Coin Talk and helps me straighten out all my countermark messes and mysteries.
I was reading the recent Earthquake Thread and saw Roman Collector's countermarked Trajan from Antioch: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/december-13th-the-day-the-earth-shook.371511/ RC's coin originally appeared here in this thread. Since these "laurel branch" countermarks seem a bit scarce, I thought I'd revive this post in order to share my recent catch here. It is not nearly as nice as RC's, but the countermark was pretty clear, and it was cheap: Trajan/Hadrian Æ 27 (c. 102-114 A.D. / cm see note) Syria, Seleucis & Pieria, Antiochia ad Orontem [ΑΥΤΟΚΡ] ΚΑΙϹ ΝΕΡ ΤΡΑΙΑ[ΝΟϹ] ϹΕΒ[ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚ] laureate head left / SC within laurel wreath, BI below. RPC III 3595; McAlee 487(m). (12.98 grams / 27 x 25 mm) eBay Nov. 2020 $12.50 Countermark Notes: Laurel branch incuse in 5 x 4 mm rectangle, Howgego 378. According to Howgego, the laurel branch countermark appears as an undertype on a Bar Kochba bronze, indicating that it was applied prior to 132-135 AD. https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=930871
Pictured below are two Antioch bronze coins I sold long ago. Both were in the collection of Richard McAlee, & pictured in his book The Coins of Roman Antioch. Syria - Antioch, circa AD 102-114, AE as: 18.4. gm, 26 mm. McAlee 487m. Syria - Antioch, circa AD 116-117, AE as: 15.25 gm, 26 mm. McAlee 494d.
Those are quite handsome - that top one is the same "BI" type as my countermarked version (at least I think so - mine is so cruddy my attribution is iffy - I can see the BI and the bust is not draped or cuirassed). McAlee 487m Thanks for sharing.