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Message:: [QUOTE="jamesicus, post: 3221485, member: 14873"]In COINS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM (BMCRE), Volume I (Augustus to Vitellius) - Introduction to Claudius Chronology, Harold Mattingly points out that there were numerous imitations of Claudius aes coinage, some of them barbarous, during this period. These coins were produced throughout the northern frontier - notably in Gaul and Britannia - often by unskilled fabricators using unofficial dies. These local imitations were frequently accepted (and countermarked) by Roman Officials for use by both the Roman military and civilian population. In his discussion relating to Countermarks Mattingly also points out that their main purpose was to extend the circulation of coins under new authority - and in some instances to also denote re-valuation of coinage denominations. The countermarks were heavily incused (stamped within a border), mostly on the coin obverses, in order to survive prolonged usage and wear. Countermarks may also have been applied to confirm the continued validity of old and much worn or inferior coins, particularly when the supply of new coins to frontier areas fell short of established goals. In his article "The Countermark PROB on Coins of Claudius I from Britain" (The Numismatic Chronicle Vol. 148 {1988}, pp. 53-61), Robert Kenyon records that after his conquest of Britain in 42AD (and maybe planned before) Claudius issued large quantities of early OB CIVES SERVATOS (without PP) and SPES Sestertii of 41AD (minted in Rome) for use in general commerce in Britain. All of this coinage was countermarked PROB (Probatum = approved) on the coin obverse. In my experience surviving countermarked coins from this period of Britannic history are usually much worn and in not very good condition, but they often have great historical association. TYPICAL SPES SESTERTIUS ISSUED BY THE ROMAN MINT <img src="http://jp29.org/ric09o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /><img src="http://jp29.org/ric09rs.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />RIC VOl. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome No. 99, 41-50 AD, (36mm, 25.3gm)Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing rightInscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMPReverse depiction: Personification of Spesholding flower in right hand and demurely raising skirt with left handInscription: SPES AVGVSTA - S C (exergue) TYPICAL IMITATIVE SPES SESTERTIUS <img src="http://jp29.org/000claudius4.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />Pangeri 85d, (30mm, 15.02gm)Countermarked DV on obverse Enlargement of DV countermark: <img src="http://jp29.org/000claudius4x.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> This is an official revaluation countermark indicating this coin is now designated a dupondius due to its low weight. TYPICAL IRREGULAR OB CIVES SERVATOS SESTERTIUS <img src="http://jp29.org/claud2o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /><img src="http://jp29.org/claud2r.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />BMCRE, Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 120, 41-45AD (38mm, 29.2gm)Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing rightInscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMPCountermarked PROBMattingly note - Cmk. in oblong incuse in front of neck and face; end of legend obliteratedReverse depiction: Civic Oak WreathInscription in four lines:EX SCO BC I V E SSERVATOS(within Civic Oak Wreath) Enlargement of PROB countermark: <img src="http://jp29.org/000claudprobx.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> I believe this to be an irregular issue coin (struck from locally made unofficial dies). Note the flattened and bulged area on the reverse resulting from the very heavily struck countermark on the obverse which was carelessly positioned almost off the flan. The inscriptional lettering on the reverse is somewhat uneven and not very well formed. Later (PP marked) coins were not so Countermarked and were probably not circulated in Britain <img src="http://jp29.org/000cl2o.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /><img src="http://jp29.org/000cl2r.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" />BMCRE Vol. I, CLAUDIUS, SESTERTIUS, Rome, No. 185, 42AD and on (38mm, 29.8gm)Plate 36Obverse depiction: Claudius, laureate head facing rightInscription: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG PM TRP IMP PPMattingly note - with PP (Pater Patriae) markingReverse depiction: Civic Oak WreathInscription in four lines:EX SCP POB CIVESSERVATOS(within Civic Oak Wreath)[/QUOTE]

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