Countermarked Trajan SC in wreath series from Antioch

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Roman Collector, Oct 20, 2019.

  1. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Interesting countermark on this one.

    Trajan Antioch AE.jpg
    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.
     
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2019
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  3. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..huh....yeah it is...i've never seen one quite like it RC :)
     
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  4. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    Ryro and Roman Collector like this.
  5. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

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  6. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    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.
     
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  7. thejewk

    thejewk Well-Known Member

    Very interesting, I like it a lot. I'd like to add a few countermarks to my collection as well.
     
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  8. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    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:

    CM - Laurels on Trajan Antioch SC Nov 2020 (0).jpg

    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
     
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  9. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Historically interesting coin and a nice addition to your collection!
     
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  10. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    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.

    Antioch-Trajan, 26 mm, 18.4 gm, MA487m.jpg
    Syria - Antioch, circa AD 102-114, AE as: 18.4. gm, 26 mm. McAlee 487m.

    Antioch-Trajan, AD 116-117, 26 mm, 15.25 gm, MA 494d, RARE.jpg
    Syria - Antioch, circa AD 116-117, AE as: 15.25 gm, 26 mm. McAlee 494d.
     
  11. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    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.
     
  12. Al Kowsky

    Al Kowsky Well-Known Member

    I'm sure you're right about McAlee 487m ;). Keep my photo for reference.
     
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