Hello ladies and gentlemen, I have this Augustus As for a while Poor condition but I managed to attribute it without issues http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.1(2).aug.431 What surprised me about it is the obverse portrait. Is that some kind of countermark or strange damage? I know some Augustus specimens were countermarked under Tiberius but it doesn't look similar.
Can't see the mark you are referring to on the pictures. There are several publications about countermarks on Roman coins; maybe these can be of help: http://www.accla.org/actaaccla/baker2.html and http://www.romancoins.info/countermark-Richard-Baker.html there is also a very extensive one by Ulrich Werz, in two parts, at academia.org "Gegenstempel auf Aesprägungen der frühen römischen Kaiserzeit im Rheingebiet - Grundlagen, Systematik, Typologie"
It is the same coin but different light. Thanks for the links, I will try to see if I find something related to mine.
These Augustus SC AEs(or imitations of them) are often found with countermarks of various sorts, usually AVG and TICA or variations. I can't tell what yours is exactly - these countermarks are often only partially struck up. My guess would be AVG or TICA, perhaps PP. These seem to be connected with the military along the Balkan and German frontiers, but I never found a clear consensus on what is going on. Perhaps a validation of worn or underweight imitations for use by the garrisons? Here is one of mine with a lot going on: Augustus Æ As / Dupondius Imperial Moneyer with Pannonia c/m (1st C. A.D.) AVGVSTVS [TRIB]VNIC [POTE]ST in three lines within oak wreath / [?]MSAN[?] around large SC. (Uncertain attribution; possible Balkan imitative) Countermarks: See reverse. (7.16 grams / 25 mm) Countermarks: AVG, TICÆ obverse / P•P• and CAE reverse. M. Pangerl Collection 75 (AVG), 90 (TICÆ) 81a (P.P.) 77c (CAE)
