Countermark

A countermarked Constantine and Gallienus coin

Below are examples of ancient coins in circulation more than 1,000 years after they were minted by the Romans. They were likely recently discovered and re-introduced.

It is very rare to find Late Roman bronze coins that have been countermarked.

These two Late Roman bronze coins have been countermarked as 4 maravedis --IIII with what looks like a crown over the top. I am not exactly sure when these coins were re-introduced, but I have seen similar countermarks struck in the 1600's under Philip IV of Spain; so over a thousand years later and these two coins were circulating again.

Constantine I

Constantine I

A.D. 312- 313
22mm 4.1g
IMP CONSTANTINVS P F AVG laureate, draped, seen from the rear.
SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI [The senate and the Roman people to the highest prince] Legionary eagle (to the left) between two vexilla, that on left surmounted by a right hand, that on right by a wreath; flag on the eagle.
in ex R S RIC VI Rome 348

Constantine SPQR Rome 348 countermark of a
temple

Gallienus

Gallienus

A.D. 260- 268

Ӕ Antoninianus

20x21mm 3.0g

GALLIENVS AVG; radiate head right.

SECVRIT PERPET; Securitas standing facing, head left, leaning on column to right and holding scepter H in right field.

RIC IV Rome 280

Gallienus SECVRIT PERPET Rome 280 countermark
of a temple

More examples of late circulation

Here is a similar countermark also issued by Spain.

a bronze coin of
Domitian (81-96AD) countermarked during
the monetary reform of Philip IV, ruler of
Spain.

In 1636, a bronze coin of Domitian (81-96AD) was countermarked during the monetary reform of Philip IV, ruler of Spain.
(Blanchet, Sur la chronologie Atablie par les contremarques 1907)

Coins struck under Constantine the Great (323-337AD) were still in circulation in remote places of southern France during Napoleon III. (1852-1870).

Friedensburg, Die Munze in der Kulturgeschichte, pg. 3

In 1916, Arthur E. Robinson was in the Sudan, and his "Nubian" servant brought him some small coins which still circulated west of the Nile. An assortment of the coins consisted of--

Ptolemaic (2 specimens), BM cat. 106, 32-5; Svoronos 1426.
Hadrian (Alex.) BM cat. 346, 21; Dattari 6299.
Probus (Alex.) BM cat. 315, 2435; Svoronos 5557.
Diocletian, BM cat. 324, 2510; Dattari 5693.
Constantine I, not in BM cat.; Dattari 6054.
Turkish, Early Othmanli circ. A.D. 1000 (clipped).

Arthur E. Robinson, "False and Imitation Roman Coins", The Journal of Antiquarian Association of the British Isles 2, no. 3 (1931) : 102.

modified on 11 Dec 2020