Two Imitative Claudian Sestertii with devaluation countermarks

Many imitative Britannic Roman coins were not only crudely rendered using unofficial locally made dies, they were also frequently considerably underweight. These coins were often accepted for general use by Roman officials in Britain in order to relieve pervasive coin shortages - but they were marked as devalued coinage.

TYPICAL IMITATIVE CLAUDIUS SPES SESTERTIUS WITH DEVALUATION COUNTERMARK


Pangeri 85d, (30mm, 15.2gm)
Countermarked DV (denoting half value) on obverse.

Enlargement of DV countermark:



This is a devaluation countermark indicating this coin is revalued as a Dupondius (half value) due to its low weight. The same convention was used for underweight dupondii to denote revaluation as As (half value). Note edge chisel mark on the obverse at approx. 3 o'clock which is always present on DV countermarked coins.

TYPICAL IMITATIVE CLAUDIUS SPES SESTERTIUS WITH DEVALUATION COUNTERMARK


Pangeri 85d, (29mm, 14.6gm)
Countermarked DV (denoting half value) on obverse

Enlargement of DV countermark:

 

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Another shows the tendancy for these to be well worn as well as unofficial style.

 

Very interesting! I've never heard of coins being marked as half-value.