It's very rare for LRB's to have been countermarked. Below are two coins that have countermarks of a tetrastyle temple, similar, though not exactly the same, to Howgego 286 from Panormus, Sicily. The Howgego 286 cm was applied to 1st century coins like Augustus or Tiberius...these two coins were struck considerably later. “Gallienus BI Antoninianus. Rome, AD 264/5. GALLIENVS AVG, radiate and cuirassed bust right; countermark: tetrastyle temple / SECVRIT PERPET, Securitas standing to left, leaning on column, holding sceptre; H to right. RIC 280; C. 961; MIR 595w; for countermark cf. Howgego, GIC 286 (Panormus). 2.99g, 22mm, 6h.” “Constantine I Æ Nummus. Rome, AD 312-313. IMP CONSTANTINUS P F AVG, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right; countermark: tetrastyle temple / S P Q R OPTIMO PRINCIPI, legionary eagle between two vexilla, RQ in exergue. RIC 349a; for countermark cf. Howgego, GIC 286 (Panormus). 4.12g, 22mm, 6h.” Interestingly these two coins were issued about fifty years apart and have the same cm...maybe done around the same time or perhaps some fifty years apart. Both coins also have considerable wear. Maybe a bit worn before cm'ing or perhaps after they were cm'ed they wore down more from prolonged circulation. So several questions (who, what, where, when and why) with no answers…only speculation.
Never knew these existed. I have a hard time understanding why countermarks would be needed after provincial mints closed. I would assume they were stamped at the same time. Looks like the countermark made the split open up.
That's a noodle scratcher. I'll take a guess just to keep the thread towards the top as I'd love to read other guesses or even a half hearted explanation. Maybe marks to assign them value as a gaming piece. Or something like a theater ticket or brothel token. Total shots in the dark, but I do love a good mystery. Thanks for sharing Victor
What about commemoratives? you go to the local temple, instead of getting an elongated penny, you get a temple stamped ant or follis!
I wish I knew the find site for these two, if possible, but all I have is "From the inventory of a UK dealer." Maybe I will be able to find out more.
Oh, that one is simple. So all these slaves are sitting around the Ostrogothic mint, scratching "XLII" on all of these Vespasian era As coins. Then the boss comes up with the bright idea that the smaller 3rd and 4th century issues could be reissued as 5 Nummi. But every time the slaves tried cutting "IIIII" on these small bronze issues, the close work would result in sliced open fingers. Ancient OSHA regulations demanded an alternate solution, so a small stamp was ordered...
They are simply modern 16th century Spanish countermarks (IIII maravedis). I made a little note in my next book to be published
That's fascinating. Do I understand correctly that you suggest that some late Roman coins have been revalued as Spanish copper change and entered into circulation around 1600? That seems plausible but also somewhat extraordinary to me, and I wonder whether you have collected more information on this that you might be willing to share. I know these early 17th century Spanish inflation countermarks mainly from slightly older Spanish coins such as this one, but I am not an expert on these: Spanish Monarchy, under Philip III, CU 4 maravedis (countermarked as 8 maravedis), 1602 AD, Segovia mint. Obv: +PHILIPPVS·III·D·G·OMNIVM; castle in octolobe; in field, C. Rev: ·HISPAN·REGNORVM·REX· 1602; crowned lion in octolobe; countermark: crowned VIII with B below. 27mm, 6.22g. Ref: Calíco 750. Here is a close-up of the countermark:
Here is another reference to an ancient coin with a modern countermark In 1636, a bronze coin of Domitian (81-96AD) was countermarked during the monetary reform of Philip IV, ruler of Spain. (Blanchet, Sur la chronologie Atablie par les contremarques 1907)
That’s wild. So Spain was SO short on coinage that they started stamping anything metal and round? Crazy
