My Byzantine countermark/counterstamp collection doubled this week with a lot from eBay. They are all Heraclius so far, SB 882 and SB 884. There are two that baffle me, however: Left: 25 x 17 mm, 4.4 grams. The obverse looks like Constans to me, and does not appear to be counterstamped, unless this is SB 882 "single head" taking up the whole flan. But the SC counterstamp is clearly visible on the reverse and it seems to be SB 883 or 884? Right: 19 mm, 4 grams. I don't even know which side is up on this one. Perhaps not a countermark, but rather a messy overstrike? The top photo is oriented so you can see a large bearded bust, cut off just above the moustache by a line and R T (?). The reverse C Star Cross/X is probably oriented wrong. Any help greatly appreciated. Here's the whole lot - the two in question are center row left:
I see another portrait, in the C star X side, with top of the head at 7 o'clock (?). RTS should be Carthage mint. The coin seems an overstrike. First one seems rather Constans II (1103?) because one person & no beard. I have no Carthage and no Sicily, so not much help...
I believe that the coin to the left, first photo is that of Heraclius, Sicily mint, possibly a half follis, based on the weight.
Thank you for the input, catadc! I was thinking Carthage too - if only because of the "C". Byzantines are fun, but confusing.
I hadn't been thinking half follis, but you may be right. The weights in this era are so "everywhere" I'm always in a muddle. Thanks for the suggestion, I appreciate it. I'll poke around the half folles and see if anything comes up.
I think I figured these out. Wrong trees were climbed. Thank you for those who helped - this put me on the right track. Below are my attributions and some somewhat better photos. This appears to be a Carthage overstrike (the reverse photo is tilted to the left a bit - didn't have my readers on again): Constans II Half Follis (641-668 A.D.) Carthage Mint [DN CONSTANTN], crowned, mantled bust facing w. short beard, [trefoil on crown] / large cross C-[T] to left & [X-X to left & right], cross & dot-star-[dot] above. SB 1059; DOC 144. (3.98 grams / 20 x 18 mm) Overstrike Notes: Host coin appears to be another Constans II half follis from Carthage mint. [C]RTS mintmark visible on the reverse. Trace of the bottom of bust visible obverse (?). SB 1056 (standing obverse) SB 1057 (bust obverse) Here's my effort to show the [C]RTS mintmark. The other types obverse bust is inverted above it - the line cuts off just above the moustache. The strike is so half-and-half I am not sure which is the undertype and which is the overstrike: Here's the other mystery. The big SC on this led me to believe it was a counterstamp, but it is not. It is a Syracuse, Sicily issue, SB 1103, and appears to be a bit scarce. I wonder if the large SC reverse was to mimic the counterstamp issues? It sure fooled me! Constans II Æ Follis (c. 641-644 A.D.) Syracuse Mint [M]PER CONS[T], crowned, unbearded bust facing, wearing chlamys, holding cross on globe / lower case M, ANA to left, [NEOS] right, large SC, preceded by Officina Γ SB 1103; DOC 9; MIB 204a-c. (4.40 grams / 25 x 17 mm)