Museum of Countermarks on Roman Coins
"ALAR", "LVI", "VI", "X", "LXV", "XV", "LII"
coins marked with rbc are from
the Richard Baker Collection
The West (Hispania - Pannonia):
"ALAR" of
Ala II Arvacorum, based in Pannonia
(countermark Martini
Pangerl Collection 74)
"LVI"
on a Claudius Sestertius,
likely applied for Legio VI Victrix while still in Spain (this legion
was
later moved to Britain). The countermark shows the combination of
Letter
and Numerals, with the "Club of Hercules" above. Legio VI Victrix was
Galba's
personal Legion under his command in Spain. On April 2, 68
A.D. they
were the first Legion to renounce the oath of allegiance to the Emperor
Nero, and instead swore an oath to Galba as the "Imperator" and
representative
of the Roman Senate". The coin is of Gallic
manufacture.
The diameter is 36mm, weight 22.8g
rbc
"VI"
on moneyer As of Augustus
(likely imitation countermark of AVC, but could also refer to "VI" of a
sixth legion)
"X"
for LEGIO X GEMINA on Nero Dupondius,
Pannonia Superior (countermark Martini
Pangerl
Collection 82)
This Legion was stationed in Pannonia in 68 A.D. and took no active
role in the revolt against Nero or its immediate aftermath. This
countermark has until recently been described as a "barred X". It is
usually listed as having a horizontal "bar" across the top (or bottom
depending upon the allignment of the portrait). Peter Kos and
Andrej Semrov, in their book, ''Roman Imperial Coins and Countermarks
of
the
1st Century ( Augustus-Traianus ) refute this, believing instead that
this countermark is actually an "XI" for the LEGIO XI CLAUDIA PIA
FIDELIS, stationed in Dalmatia til 69 A.D. Their arguments
for
time and circimstance are plausible but, not their descriptions of the
countermarks stylistic "Terminals" to the "I" and, in
particular
the height vs. width ratio of the numerals.
rbc
diameter 34 by 36 mm with a weight of
22.6g.
rbc
diameter 33 by 35 mm with a weight of
23.1g.
another one...
"LXV"
on Claudius As together
with retrograde "PR" countermark (middle coin). This countermark is for
the Legio XV Apollinaris.
rbc
for the middle coin with the L XV
countermark diameter
is 26 by 28mm with a weight of 14.2g
"XV"
cut on both sides
of a Dupondius of the young Marcus Aurelius, likely also for the Legio
XV Apollinaris, the other legion Primigenia with this number had
already
ceased to exist by that time.
rbc,
Diameter is 26 by 27.5 mm with a weigt of 13.2g.
"LII"
on AE 27 of unknown
origin, and cannot be attributed to a specific Legio II. Could be of
Western
or Eastern origin.
rbc
diameter is 22mm with a weight of 8.9g.
another view of
the same coin
Related Sections of the Roman Numismatic Gallery: