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Two countermarked owls, the Gemini twins and Melqart riding a hippocamp
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<p>[QUOTE="robinjojo, post: 7530708, member: 110226"]Hi Donna</p><p><br /></p><p>First, I just want to mention that I am not an expert on counterstamps or countermarks. Actually, I am much closer to a "rank armature", as Gilbert and Sullivan would say. Second, thank for the links and the information provided, which probably quadrupled my knowledge in this highly specialized and really little understood subject.</p><p><br /></p><p>I am in the habit of using counterstamp and countermark on an almost interchangeable basis. I do distinguish counterstamps and countermarks from simple punches that were probably employed by merchants as an alternative to the highly intrusive and destructive test cut.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here's an example of what I am referring to, an intermediate Athenian tetradrachm that I recently purchased, from Israel:</p><p><br /></p><p>16.7 grams</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1300339[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The two punches are very symmetrical, the first one square with a radiating star-like inner pattern, and the second, more cross shaped, again with radiating inner lines. </p><p><br /></p><p>These punches are simpler in design, compared to the more elaborate countermarks in my OP images. I would guess that these marks, since they are so elemental, were probably used by merchants and traders, while the more elaborate countermarks were likely used by bankers and governing authorities. This is just a guess on my part and I am sure that far more knowledgeable collectors in this field could provide much more accurate information.</p><p><br /></p><p>I do know that coins with certain Aramaic or Paleo Hebrew characters were used as countermarks to authorize their circulation within jurisdictions. </p><p><br /></p><p>Here's a brief, but interesting discussion on the subject from Forum Ancient Coins:</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=94714.0" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=94714.0" rel="nofollow">http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=94714.0</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Here's an owl with bankers' marks, according to the description on Forum Ancient Coins. One of them, on the obverse, seems similar the Seleucid anchor countermark used on the tetradrachms of Pamphylia, Side, but on the other hand it might be a character.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?param=86603q00.jpg&vpar=66&zpg=93258&fld=https://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins2/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?param=86603q00.jpg&vpar=66&zpg=93258&fld=https://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins2/" rel="nofollow">https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?param=86603q00.jpg&vpar=66&zpg=93258&fld=https://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins2/</a></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins2/86603q00.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p> So, I am sorry if I was unable to clarify the distinction between countermark and counterstamp. I think, as in Roman times, these stamps were used for a variety of reasons when owls circulated in the eastern Mediterranean and points beyond.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="robinjojo, post: 7530708, member: 110226"]Hi Donna First, I just want to mention that I am not an expert on counterstamps or countermarks. Actually, I am much closer to a "rank armature", as Gilbert and Sullivan would say. Second, thank for the links and the information provided, which probably quadrupled my knowledge in this highly specialized and really little understood subject. I am in the habit of using counterstamp and countermark on an almost interchangeable basis. I do distinguish counterstamps and countermarks from simple punches that were probably employed by merchants as an alternative to the highly intrusive and destructive test cut. Here's an example of what I am referring to, an intermediate Athenian tetradrachm that I recently purchased, from Israel: 16.7 grams [ATTACH=full]1300339[/ATTACH] The two punches are very symmetrical, the first one square with a radiating star-like inner pattern, and the second, more cross shaped, again with radiating inner lines. These punches are simpler in design, compared to the more elaborate countermarks in my OP images. I would guess that these marks, since they are so elemental, were probably used by merchants and traders, while the more elaborate countermarks were likely used by bankers and governing authorities. This is just a guess on my part and I am sure that far more knowledgeable collectors in this field could provide much more accurate information. I do know that coins with certain Aramaic or Paleo Hebrew characters were used as countermarks to authorize their circulation within jurisdictions. Here's a brief, but interesting discussion on the subject from Forum Ancient Coins: [URL]http://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=94714.0[/URL] Here's an owl with bankers' marks, according to the description on Forum Ancient Coins. One of them, on the obverse, seems similar the Seleucid anchor countermark used on the tetradrachms of Pamphylia, Side, but on the other hand it might be a character. [URL]https://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?param=86603q00.jpg&vpar=66&zpg=93258&fld=https://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins2/[/URL] [IMG]https://www.forumancientcoins.com/Coins2/86603q00.jpg[/IMG] So, I am sorry if I was unable to clarify the distinction between countermark and counterstamp. I think, as in Roman times, these stamps were used for a variety of reasons when owls circulated in the eastern Mediterranean and points beyond.[/QUOTE]
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Two countermarked owls, the Gemini twins and Melqart riding a hippocamp
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