Lot 5301

Description

(Titus), from Moesia & Thrace, period of Titus (A.D. 79-81), (5.944 grams), AE 25 with countermarks of AVG (twice), TI.CAE [TI{tus} CAE{SAR}), dolphin right (on reverse) and helmet, on Augustus AE as from Ephesus, (Martini, Nom.6, Pangerl Collection of Countermarked Imperial coins, countermark types No. 83, 90, 95 and 98). Countermarks very fine, host coin poor, and very rare with all these known countermarks.

Ex Noble Numismatics Auction Sale 79 (lot 3608). Martini notes the letters which he believes to mean TI(tus?) CAE(sar) and AVG(ustus) which Martini notes are always closely associated and further notes the issues as struck generally on issues of Augustus from Ephesus. Martini places the countermark of dolphin and helmet as an earlier issue but still in the period of Vespasian and Titus. It was in a Thrace-Moesia area that these countermarks were applied to circulating worn coinage. The Pangerl collection contained very few examples with all these countermarks. Type 95 with dolphin are those mostly found with these additional countermarks.