Show us your Overstruck Coins!

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Harry G, Feb 28, 2021.

  1. Harry G

    Harry G Well-Known Member

    Hi all! Thought it would be fun to share pictures of out coins that have been overstruck over other coins!

    I recently bought this rather nice antoninianus of Carausius for the great portrait (paid about £30 for it). Little did I know (the pictures weren't brilliant) that it was overstruck on an antoninianus of Victorinus, with a decent amount of Victorinus' bust and obverse legend clearly visible on Carausius' reverse!

    overstruck carausius.png

    Do you have any overstruck coins that you want to share? :)
     
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  3. John Conduitt

    John Conduitt Well-Known Member

    That's a very interesting coin. I haven't seen an overstruck Romano-British coin. Presumably Victorinus was fair game by that point, being an emperor of a failed Gallic breakaway state when Carausius wanted to endear himself to Diocletian (and not look like an emperor of a breakaway state).

    I have this Hemiassarion from Sardes, Lydia, overstruck at the time of Vespasian.

    Sardes Hemiassarion, 69-79AD
    upload_2021-2-28_22-17-50.png
    Lydia. Bronze (AE19), 12.5mm, 2.48g. Obverse: EΠI TI KΛAY ΦIΛEINOY CTΡA (Ti. Cl. Phileinos magistrate), draped bust of Mên wearing Phrygian cap. Reverse: CAΡ/ΔIA/NΩN (Sardisian) within laurel wreath (RPC II 1307).


    It's overstruck on a coin of the same city, possibly of Nero. On the obverse, "CAPΔ" is discernible just below the bust (for CAΡΔIANΩN, Sardisian, as seen on the reverse of the new coin).

    On the reverse, there's "KAIC" upside down at the top. Nero struck a hemiassarion in Sardes around 65AD with the obverse legend NEPΩN KAICAP (Nero Caesar), with Hercules on the reverse.

    I think it was quite common for Roman emperors to obliterate their predecessors like this, at least when they were no longer revered!
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2021
  4. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    This is my favorite overstrike. Overstrikes aren't at all uncommon with Byzantine coins but I love the fact that this one has both emperors clearly identified on each side of the coin.

    Nicephorus II Phocas
    AE Follis
    Constantinople
    Note: Overstruck on Constantine VII Follis
    Obverse: NICIFR bASIL ROM, crowned bust facing with short beard, wearing loros, holding labarum and cross on globe
    (reverse of Constantine VII CONST-EN QEO bA-SILEVS underneath bust)
    Reverse: NICHF-EN QEW bA-SILEVS RW-MAIWN, legend in four lines
    (bust of Constantine VII upside down on top of legend)
    [​IMG]
     
  5. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    constiX.jpeg
    Constantine X (1059 - 1067 A.D.)
    Æ FOLLIS
    O: +EMMA_NOVHA Christ standing facing on footstool, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels. IC XC across field
    R: EVDKARO +KWNTAK On left, Eudocia standing facing, wearing modified loros with kite-shaped lower panel and crown with cross and pendilia; on right, Constantine standing facing, wearing modified loros and crown with cross and pendilia, both holding labarum with cross-piece on shaft between them, standing on base and three steps, and each places one hand on heart
    Constantinople
    6.1g
    26mm
    DOC 8; SB 1853

    Overstruck
     
  6. Silphium Addict

    Silphium Addict Well-Known Member

    Overstrikes are fascinating and often historically significant. Kyrenaika overstruck coins quite often as there are no local sources of precious metals. One of my favorites:
    jt715.jpg
    Kyrene AR tetradrachm 500-480 BC 16.84 gm 24 mm cf. BMC 2
    O: silphium plant flanked by 2 silphium fruits
    R: quadripartite incuse square
    overstruck on Athenian tetradrachm (top of owl's head just above incuse square and top of back at left side incuse square)
     
  7. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    [​IMG]
    Faustina Sr, AD 138-141
    Roman AR denarius; 3.83 g, 18.2 mm
    Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust, right
    Rev: AETERNITAS, Fortuna standing left, holding globe and rudder
    Refs: RIC 348; BMCRE 360; Cohen 6; RCV 4577.
    Note: Overstruck on previous issue, perhaps a CONCORDIA seated issue of Sabina.
     
  8. curtislclay

    curtislclay Well-Known Member

    Roman Collector,

    What traces of overstriking do you see on your EF Diva Faustina I denarius?
     
    Harry G likes this.
  9. robinjojo

    robinjojo Well-Known Member

    Heraclius (610-641) produced much over-struck coinage, probably due to necessity, but also as a means to erase the record and memory of his predecessor, Phocas.

    Here's a typical example.

    D-Camera Heraclius follis, Constantinople, officina A overstruck Phocas, 11.7 grams 2-28-21.jpg

    The reverse still shows remnants of the legend of the previous follis of Phocas: ....PERPAV....

    The officina is clear (A), but the year is muddled (RY 4?), and the "C" for the mint is fairly readable. There's also an odd crescent where the cross should be, above the M, but that's probably due to the over-strike.

    11.7 grams
     
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2021
  10. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    If I rotate the reverse 90 degrees counterclockwise, you can see a throne and what is likely a cornucopiae beneath it. Coming down from Fortuna's face is a roughly spiral-shaped vertical object I think is a goddess's shin:

    [​IMG]

    I postulate it was a CONCORDIA AVG issue of Sabina:

    [​IMG]
     
  11. hotwheelsearl

    hotwheelsearl Well-Known Member

    Here is Constans II overstruck on *something else*
    Constans II Sear 1105 (2020_11_18 03_38_31 UTC).JPG
     
  12. BenSi

    BenSi Well-Known Member

    Neither is attributed yet. Came out of a group lot and I put them aside.
    n3.jpg

    Portrait reminds me of Focus 12.3gm and 33.94mm

    And
    o3.jpg

    11.31gm and 29.44mm

    If someone is in the mood for a mystery , feel free.
     
  13. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    collagemaker_20190302_122713662.jpg
    Zeugitania, Carthage, AE Unit
    Struck ~350 BC just before the 3rd Carthaginian invasion of Sicily 345-340 BC
    Overstruck on coin from 400-350 BC
    West Sicilian mint

    Obverse: Youthful male head (Trittolemo?) to left between two grain ears.
    Reverse: Horse galloping right.
    References: SNG COP 120, MAA 19 (overstruck on MAA 18)
    Size: 18 mm, 3.46g

    Notes: Interesting overstrike; the head of Tanit is visible on the reverse, and the horse standing before palm tree on the obverse.

    (Top two images are of coin, MAA 19, compared to a coin it was overstruck on at bottom, MAA 18.)

    The male image lacks signs of a deity and may be one of the leaders of the Punic forces.

    collagemaker_20190806_160429862.jpg
    collagemaker_20190806_160643441.jpg

    Zeugitania, Carthage, 350-320 BC
    AE Unit, Possibly from other mints (Sicily?)

    Obverse: Palm tree, with two clusters of dates.
    Reverse: Head of horse left (variation).
    References: MAA 20 var (horse head left), SNG COP 102 var (same), Müller 317-318 var (same)
    Size: 17mm, 3.10g
    Notes: Overstruck on type MAA 15 (400-350 BC).


    collagemaker_20190729_143814949.jpg

    John I, Ruled 969-976 AD
    AE Class A1 Anonymous Follis
    Constantinople Mint

    Obverse: + EMMANOVHL, facing bust of Christ, wearing nimbus cruciger, two pellets in each cross limb, pallium and colobium, holding ornamented Gospels with both hands, to left IC, to right XC.
    Reverse: + IhSuS / XRISTuS / bASILEu / bASILE (Jesus Christ King of Kings) in 4 liines.
    References: Sear 1793
    Size: 25-26mm, 6.02g
    Notes: Frequently over-struck on folles of Nicephorus II or Constantine VII.
    Ex: Anthony DiDonato Collection
     
  14. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Many, it is a specialty of mine but the one good for this thread is my Carausius over Victorinus. On mine the obverses are on the same side and Pax is over Salus.
    rt3455bb3118.jpg
     
  15. Carl Wilmont

    Carl Wilmont Well-Known Member

    Coins from the Bar Kokhba Revolt were re-struck. Excerpt from my CoinTalk article, "The Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-136 AD)":

    "...the rebels began to produce their own currency by overstriking Roman bronze and silver coins. This repurposing of coinage resulted in the conversions of the tetradrachm to the sela (shekel); the denarius and provincial drachm to the zuz; and the sestertius, the dupondus, and the as to the prutah. The surfaces of bronze coins were filed down to obliterate previous images before being overstruck, but silver coins were hammered down instead in order to preserve the precious metal content. The latter method was less effective in completely erasing impressions on the host coin, and thus remnants of the undertype can sometimes be detected on Bar Kokhba selas and zuzim."

    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-bar-kokhba-revolt-132-136-ad.362091/

    Here's my example:


    [​IMG]

    Judaea, Bar Kokhba Revolt. Silver Zuz (3.25 g), 132-135 AD. Undated, attributed to year 3 (134/5 AD). 'Simon' (Paleo-Hebrew), bunch of grapes with leaf and tendril. / 'For the freedom of Jerusalem' (Paleo-Hebrew), upright palm branch. Hendin 1430; Hendin Great Biblical Coins, Fifth Edition, plate 40, (this coin illus.); Mildenberg 150 (O11/R103), 7 cited, this being #5. Portions of the undertype legend visible on obverse from the obverse of a Drachm, probably of Trajan and probably of Caesaria. The letters AYTOK can be discerned, these being part of the title AYTOKRATΩR - autocrat, dictator, tyrant, despot. Ex David Hendin Collection.
     
    Last edited: Mar 1, 2021
  16. The Eidolon

    The Eidolon Well-Known Member

    Here are three possible examples:
    Austria 1802 7 kreutzer
    All of these were struck over debased 1795 12 kreutzer coins
    Austria 7 Kreutzer 1802 copy.jpeg

    Byzantine anonymous follis class E 1059-1067 Constantine X
    Not sure if overstruck or just double struck.
    But something is going on with the text on the reverse
    Byzantine anonymous follis class E 1059-1067 Constantine X, SBCV 1855 copy.jpeg

    1/8 real Durango 1824
    I believe most of these are contemporary counterfeits struck over 1821-3
    Nueva Viscaya 1/8 real coppers. I can't tell how to be sure just by looking.
    This was just after the Mexican War of Independence from Spain and there
    was a lot of monetary chaos with coin shortages in the provinces.
    1:8 real Durango 1824 copy.jpeg
     
  17. Pellinore

    Pellinore Well-Known Member

    This is a Constantine II centenionalis from Trier with visible undertype on the reverse. Is it a restruck brockage?

    On the reverse, here presented upside down, you can see nose and mouth of the undertype at the STR part of NOSTRORVM and the neck of Constanine Jr. between V and M of CAESARVM.

    2773 ER upsd ct.jpg
     
  18. Ignoramus Maximus

    Ignoramus Maximus Nomen non est omen.

    Not a spectacular example, but it's the only one I have. Also, so far, my only Byzantine.
    The die shift is included for free::)

    Byzantine Empire. Follis. Anonymous. 9,86 gr, 30.5 mm..jpg
     
  19. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    I think that's actually a die clash, not an overstrike.

    Here's a die-clash of Julia Maesa for comparison:

    [​IMG]
    Julia Maesa, AD 218-225..
    Roman AR denarius, 19.70 mm, 2.70 g, 12h.
    Rome, AD 218-220.
    Obv: IVLIA MAESA AVG, bare-headed and draped bust right.
    Rev: IVNO, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter.
    Refs: RIC 254; BMCRE 67; Cohen 16; RCV 7750; Thirion 401.
    Notes: The reverse features a die-clash, resulting in a ghost-like, incuse reverse image of the obverse portrait.
     
  20. ominus1

    ominus1 Well-Known Member

    ..one of the more interesting coins in my collection is this Mamluk Arabic overstrike on this Armenian tarvorin of one of the Levons..(paid by Levon IV,1320-1342) tribute payment..i bought it thinking it was something totally different, but educated by the good peeps here on what it is..and i'm elated to have it! :smuggrin: templar double rider 001.JPG templar double rider 002.JPG
     
  21. Pellinore

    Pellinore Well-Known Member

    Well, I have some of these dramatic Byzantine overstrikes.

    3531 overstrike ct.jpg

    Byzantium, Heraclius and son overstruck on a follis of Phokas. Nikomedia. Obv. Two figures, one larger and one smaller. Text in circle: DMFOCA. Rev. Large M over XXXX or the other way round. NIKO. 30 x 33 mm, 11.05 gr.

    3521 Constans II overstrike.jpg

    Byzantium, Constans II. Follis. Overstrike, maybe on a coin of Heraclonas? Obv. Portrait of Constans with long beard. Rev. unclear. Sicily, Syracuse 650-652. Sear 1107.
     
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