Can't believe it...

While browsing I came across what at first glance looks to be a pretty nice but otherwise average As of Domitian. Something caught my eye on the obverse, however. A group of marks, XLII, carefully engraved to the left of Domitian's bust. To those not in the know, this would probably be considered distracting damage, making the coin worthy of a passing by. But these marks are a lot more significant than meets the eye.

In 6th century Ostrogothic Italy, a hoard or various hoards of 1st century imperial bronzes were uncovered. By that time these old bronzes were long obsolete. However, there existed a need to neatly divide the silver coinage into smaller fractional coinage, and better facilitate trade. Local officials took it upon themselves to have these bronzes revalued by chiseling the new values onto the coin, taking care to not damage the bust. Bigger bronzes such as sestertii were revalued more than the smaller Asses and Dupondii

These are very rare but they do come up occasionally, usually going for a couple hundred dollars or more. Fortunately I was able to acquire this for a lot less, less than $50 as a matter of fact.

More info: http://www.oudgeld.com/webbib/countdefweb.htm

I may be jumping the gun a bit posting it now seeing as how I just purchased it, but I had to share my new acquisition. A revalued imperial bronze was one of my dream coins, and I still can't believe I got one for a pretty low price...

Domitian, Roman Empire (revalued under the Ostrogothic Kingdom)
AE As
Obv: CAESAR AVG F DOMITIAN COS II, laureate head right, countermark XLII (42 nummi) in left field
Rev: VICTORIA AVGVST, Victory advancing right, standing on prow, holding wreath and palm branch, S-C across fields
Mint: Rome (struck 73-74 AD)
Ref: RIC 677


(seller's photos. Will update soon when its in hand)

If anyone is having trouble seeing the XLII, I'll edit the photo sometime tomorrow.

 

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Thats a very cool find! I remember Bill finding one of these too. Congrats!

 

i'll be darned, I would have had no idea what that was...how cool.

 

Thanks guys glad you like it! Oh and by the way this is my first countermarked coin

 

That is cool, I would have skipped past it too but im into tetradrachms for now.

 

Very interesting, congrats!

 

That's very enlightening. I wouldn't have known what that was. Now if or when I come across one marked in that way I'll know what it is. That's a very nice find.

 

Very sweet addition, Jango ... the coin is sweet without the engraving, but I'm sure that the ties to the Ostrogoths was what swayed you into purchasing the coin, eh? (very cool)

 

This is more neatly cut than many I have seen. My dream coin exists but went way over my head when it sold years ago. There is a XLII cut on a Postumus double sestertius which was overstruck on a Faustina sestertius. That is a triple. I have no idea if there is more than one. It is the sort of coin that you know you should have bought if you remember it for 30 years!

 

This coin is certainly on my list for 2015!!! I can't believe it!<$50...!!!! It might go down as one of your greatest finds and certainly greatest deal.

With a feat like this I have no problem raising you to King of the BottomFeeders.

As a fan of reused coinage, for me this is a must have!!!

 

I wouldn't even know to look for something like this. Congrats are in order.

 

WoW super congrats

 

Nice coin, never knew about that kind of countermark. Its also good that they decided not to damage parts of the design.

 

Holy sheet, good find! Nicer than mine and I paid a lot more.

ROME. Titus. As Caesar, AD 69-79.
Æ As (20mm, 9.84 g, 6 h)
Rome mint. Struck AD 77-78.
Retarrifed under by the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy as 42 nummi, 6th century AD.
Laureate head left; XLII (= mark of value, 42 nummi) carved before bust
Spes standing left, holding flower and raising hem of skirt
For host coin:cf. RIC II 1101. For revaluation: cf. Morrisson, Re-use 19; cf. MEC 1, 76 (Vespasian)

Ex Giamba Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 82, 16 September 2009), lot 1139​

 

Thanks all for the positive feedback! Makes one wonder how 6th century Italians must have thought finding these old coins of rulers long past, that Italy must have been part of something much greater.

Worn but still a nice example, especially with the XLII clearly visible. I had wanted one before but seeing your coin actually pushed more my desire to obtain one. I personally think a collection of Ostrogothic coins isnt truly complete without one of these countermarked coins.

 

Just in case anyone is still having trouble seeing it:

King Bottomfeeder, huh...

 

You know you've found something really erudite if Ardatirion posts his.

 

Ya, I guess it is a pretty rare occurrence. Not my fault that no one else here collects tesserae. Actually, now that I mention it, I'd quite like to keep it that way.

 

Ardatirion would you happen to know or have an idea of the known population of these countermarked coins?

 

The estimate in the link you posted seems reasonable to me. It looks to be taken from Morison's article.