Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 654. Estimate $200.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 8 June 2005.  Sold For $270. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

JUDAEA, Herodian Kings. Herod IV Philip, with Tiberius and Livia. 4 BCE-34 CE. Æ 23mm (9.16 gm, 1h). Paneas (Banias) mint. Jugate heads of Tiberius and Livia right; c/m: star in circle / Tetrastyle temple (Augusteum) with shield(?) between columns; c/m: X in square. Meshorer 100a; RPC I 4951; BMC -; Hendin 530. Fair, green patina. Rare. ($200)

This coin is known with two countermarks: star (Howgego 457ii) and F (Howgego 690), but the X is previously unknown. It does not resemble the marks known for Legio X Fretensis, which are typically found on coins of Nero and later. The phi has been interpreted as meaning Philip, without explaining why he would countermark his own coins. Are they some kind of sequencing marks (F =500; X=600)?