6. Denominational Countermarks on Julio-Claudian Coins

This section covers
"BON" (Martini Pangerl Collection 42)
"PROB" (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 2, MPC 23), "ROB" as variant of PROB
"PRO" (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 48)
"PRO" plus "IMP" (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 47), "BON" (Martini Pangerl Collection 42), "TIAV" (Martini Pangerl Collection 54),
"DV" (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 85)
"DVP" (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 46)
"AS" (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 39)
"S" (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 4)
"XLII" on a Galba As
"IIII" on a Constantine II AE coin
 

These are countermarks giving worn and imitation coins from the Julio-Claudian period official value, sometimes downgrading them from e.g Sestertius to a Dupondius, or from a Dupond to an As.
The countermarks could be as early as Claudius, and as late as Titus, Nerva, or even Trajan

"BON" on Claudius (?), likely from Nijmegen, NL (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 42)

"BON" on Antonia Dupondius

 

"PROB" for Probare on Claudius Sestertius (4 examples) (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 2, MPC 23)

"ROB", a variant of "PROB" with the same meaning, on a Claudius Sestertius

 
 
 

"PRO" and "IMP" on Claudius sestertius, Germania Inferior (Noviomagus ?)
"PRO" (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 48), "IMP" (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 47)

a second one

"PRO" and "IMP" on Claudius Dupond (CERES reverse), countermarks likely from Nijmegen or Xanten

another example, IMP in mirrorwriting

 

"BON, PRO, IMP" on an AEs of Claudius
"PRO" (countermarkMartini Pangerl Collection 48), "IMP" (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 47), "BON" (Martini Pangerl Collection 42)

to the left a Sestertius, to the right a dupondius

dupondius with atypical positioning of the countermarks
 

"TIAV, PRO, IMP" on Sestertius of Claudius
"PRO" (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 48), "IMP" (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 47), "TIAV" (Martini Pangerl Collection 54)

"TIAV, BON, PRO, IMP" on Sestertius of Claudius
"PRO" (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 48), "BON" (Martini Pangerl Collection 42), "IMP" (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 47), "TIAV" (Martini Pangerl Collection 54)

 

Countermarks downgrading worn or imitation AE coins from the Julio-Claudian Period
 

"DV" and punch on obverse of an imitation (or Gallic) Sestertius of Claudius. "DV" is commonly found in the Pannonian/Moesia region and downgrades this underweight Sestertius to a DVpondius. (countermarkMartini Pangerl Collection 85)


more "DV" countermarks on Claudius Sesterti from Moesia region

"DV DV DV" on a Claudius sestertius

"DV" on an imitation coin of Tiberius, while it is normally on imitation coins of Claudius

Halved coin with "DV" countermark

"DV" on a brokage coin

more "DV" countermarks on Claudius sesterti


 

"DVP"   Similiar countermarks are found in the Rhine region, but as "DVP & punch" on the reverse of Sesterti (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 46)

and as "AS" & punch" on Dupondii downgrading these to an As. (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 39)

The "S" punch on the coin below likely downgrades this worn As to a Semis (countermark Martini Pangerl Collection 4)

More "S" below, the upper maybe is rather a stylized dolphin ?

"XLII" on Galba As, such countermarks are known to have been used by the Ostrogoths and Vandals to mark Sesterti as 83 Nummi (LXXXIII) and Dupondi as 42 Nummi (XLII). Interesting in that they prove coins being in circulation some 400 years or emore after their initial issue.
actually not a countermark, but cut into the coin
 

Below countermark "IIII" on a Constantine II coin, possible late Roman for 4 Nummi.