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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Marsyas Mike, post: 8289019, member: 85693&quot;]A most useful summing-up of this intriguing countermark, Curtis.&nbsp; That single Vespasian example causing the whole series to be questioned in regards to time-of-issue is interesting, but I am not sure a single example for such an abundant issue is enough to &quot;necessitate&quot; ditching the entire Nero-issue theory.&nbsp; It would be great to find more of these Flavian examples.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Here is one more thing that I also found intriguing when researching these - a comment about these countermarks being found in the vicinity of the Meta Sudans and Colossus (the Vespasian example is mentioned as well):</p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;The countermark NCAPR was applied to numerous orichalcum coins of the reigns of Tiberius and Claudius. NCAPR is most often explained as &quot;Nero Caesar Augustus Populo Romano.&quot; Others believe NCAPR abbreviates &quot;Nummus Caesare Augusto Probatus&quot; or &quot;Nero Caesar Augustus Probavit&quot; (probavit means approved). <b>Excavations of the Meta Sudans and the northeastern slope of the Palatine Hill in Rome indicate that this countermark was applied for Nero&#039;s congiarium (distribution to the people) in 57 A.D., which supports the Populo Romano interpretation.</b> Varieties of this relatively common countermark are identified by some authors as applied in either Italy, Spain or Gaul. The countermark is not found on coins bearing the name or portrait of Caligula. Clearly any coins of Caligula that were still in circulation and collected for application of the countermark were picked out and melted down, in accordance with his damnatio, rather than being countermarked and returned to circulation. A NCAPR countermark has, however, been found on a Vespasian dupondius which, if genuine and official, seems to indicate the N may refer to Nerva, not Nero.</p><p><br /></p><p>RB54866. Orichalcum sestertius, RIC I 115, BMCRE I 192, SRCV I 1854; countermark: Pangerl 1, VF, flat areas, Rome mint, weight 29.681g, maximum diameter 36.7mm, die axis 180o, 42 A.D.; obverse TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP P P, laureate head right; reverse SPES AVGVSTA, Spes standing left, flower in right, lifting skirt with left, SC below; countermark: NCAPR within</p><p>rectangular incuse; SOLD&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>This quote is from a FORVM listing - for reasons known only to the computer gods, my pdf links do not work on FORVM (in other words, I save these files to pdf, which preserve the web address; most of the time I can click on this address and it pulls up the site; not for FORVM).&nbsp; &nbsp; </p><p>Useless link:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?param=54866q00.j" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?param=54866q00.j" rel="nofollow">https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?param=54866q00.j</a>...</p><p><br /></p><p>And I could find no primary source for these excavations at the Meta Sudans; I know Mussolini did a lot of digging around there (and leveled the Meta Sudans in the process!&nbsp; Why?).&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>I have one of these, a poor specimen that also demonstrates the heartbreak of bronze disease.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Here it is when I first got it:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1464945[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>A year or so later I became suspicious of some green areas.&nbsp; After a lot of digging and soaking, I managed to get out most (all?) of the BD, which seems to be dwelling underneath the hard green patina.&nbsp; Fortunately the countermarked area was spared (so far).&nbsp; I&#039;m keeping an eye on it:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1464944[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>Claudius&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Æ Sestertius</b></p><p><b>CM for Nero or Nerva</b></p><p><b>(c. 41-54 A.D. host)</b></p><p>[TI CLAVDIVS CAES]AR A[VG PM TR P IMP (P P?)], laureate head right / [SPES AVGVSTA], SC in exergue, Spes walking left, holding flower and lifting hem of skirt.</p><p>RIC 99 (no PP) or RIC 115 (PP)</p><p>(24.36 grams / 32 mm)</p><p>eBay Sep. 2020 </p><p><b>Countermark: </b> <u>NC</u>APR (11 mm x 3 mm rectangle).&nbsp; <u>NC</u> is joined (Italy) Pangerl 60.</p><p>&quot;Nero Caesar Aug. Populo Romano&quot;</p><p>&quot;Nummus Caesare Augusto Probatus&quot;</p><p>&quot;Nero Caesar Augustus Probavit&quot;</p><p>“Nerva Caesar Augustus Probavit”</p><p>“Three distinct production centers can be identified for this issue, in Spain, Gaul, and Italy. The Italian type is distinguished by...joining of the letters NC at the base.&quot;</p><p>CNG&#039;s Dec 2018 Elec. Auction 434</p><p><br /></p><p>Note the NC linked at the base: </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1464943[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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