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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Valentinian, post: 2587155, member: 44316&quot;]Byzantine copper coins are often overstruck on previous Byzantine copper coins. Often the undertype is almost obliterated and only traces remain. But remarkably often the undertype can be made out. Here is a coin that was overstruck twice and all three types can be identified. (Skip the rest if all you like is beautiful high-grade Greek silver.)</p><p><br /></p><p>The coin is of Heraclius, 610-641, DO 76, struck year 3 = 613 AD (II over I, on the right of the reverse).</p><p>[ATTACH=full]562497[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]562498[/ATTACH] </p><p>These first two images are oriented so the the obverse and reverse are right side up. The reverse should have a big &quot;M&quot; of which only the right side vertical bar is clear, but the II over I to the right is clear. So it the chi-ro normally between the top V strokes of the M. The obverse has narrow full-length figures of Heraclius on the left and his son (smaller) on the right with a + between their heads. Lettering between is often blundered but should include &quot;hER&quot; and this one might. Sear 805. (The Sear plate coin is also obviously overstruck, but not in a complicated way.)</p><p><br /></p><p>When a Byzantine coin is badly overstruck, it is helpful to keep in mind that Byzantine die axes are usually 6:00. So, to find the strike opposite an identifiable strike, flip it over top to bottom (that is, pivot on the 3:00 to 9:00 axis) and you are likely to be able to see the other side right side up. </p><p><br /></p><p>If you take the obverse photo and treat 5:00 as the top you get this:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]562499[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]562500[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Wow!&nbsp; It looks a lot different. Now there is a large single head facing with a pointed beard. The letters just to the left seem to say FOC.. . He is holding a very long globus cruciger (cross on a globe) in his left hand (the coin&#039;s right side). The reverse (again flipped so the bottom of the obverse is the top of the reverse) clearly shows XXXX year V = 5, and a bit of the horizontal &quot;ANNO&quot; above it (the final &quot;NO&quot;) and maybe some of the mintmark in exergue: NIK(?). [I am uncertain about the mintmark.]</p><p><br /></p><p>It is clearly Focas (Phocas), 602-610. Sear 640 (if Constantiople, 658 if Nikomedia). (The plate coins is also overstruck. You can see some undertype lettering from 1:00-2:00 on the reverse.)</p><p><br /></p><p>Now, look at 5:00 on that reverse photo above. See the + (cross) at the edge?&nbsp; Turn that upright and flip the coin as described:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]562502[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]562503[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>Now at 12:00 on the former reverse we can see the + and below it the top of a crowned facing bust with &quot;RIC&quot; to the left (from MAVRIC) and &quot;TIb&quot; to the right. Maurice Tiberius! 582-602 AD. (DO 41 or 44, Sear 494 but with cross above the head). Perhaps two vertical strokes of the narrow reverse &quot;M&quot; are visible on the reverse.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, it has three identifiable strikes. </p><p><br /></p><p>Do I see another, larger, head just to the left of and behind the small head of Heraclius in the first photo? Well, the &quot;nose&quot; is really just one of the pendilia (dangling things) from the head-decoration of Heraclius, so it is not a nose. Trying hard to see something, it almost looks like a 1/2 length broad-shouldered emperor could be depicted. But, the three certain strikes have garbled the image so much I can&#039;t make out anything else that would belong to a potential fourth strike. I call it a triple strike, Maurice first, Focas on top of that, and Heraclius , most recent, on top of that. Pretty neat![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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