Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 1261. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 8 June 2005.  Sold For $850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SAMARIA, Various mints. Circa 68-117 CE. Lot of six Æ countermarked by the Legio X Fretensis. Lot includes the following: Caesarea Maritima. Nero. Laureate head right; c/m: large XF within incuse / Tyche standing left. For coin type: RPC I 4262; for c/m: Howgego 727 // Sebaste. Domitian, as Caesar. Dated CY 109 (81/2(?) AD. Laureate head right; c/m: LXF within incuse / Tyche standing left. For coin type: RPC II 2226; for c/m: Howgego 733i (2) // Same. C/ms: Imperial bust right within incuse partially over LXF within incuse; figure standing left, holding sceptre, within incuse. For c/ms: Howgego 117, 281, and 733i. Ex Dr. Charles Ruby Collection (Superior 17-22 June 1974), lot 604 // Same. C/ms: Imperial bust right within incuse and XF within incuse (obv.); boar standing right; LXF above; dolphin beneath; all within incuse. For c/ms: Howgego 117. 291, and 733ii. Lot also includes. SYRIA, Seleucis and Pieria. Antioch. Augustus. Laureate head right; c/m: large XF within incuse / Large S C within wreath. For coin type: RPC I 4248; for c/m: Howgego 727. Coins and c/ms Fair. Six (6) coins in lot. ($500)

From the David A. Dowdy Collection.

Playing a significant role during the First Jewish War, the Legio X Fretensis remained stationed in Judaea and Samaria until sometime during the fourth century CE. Encamped at Caesarea and Sebaste, these countermarks were added to validate worn coinage for use in the camps and surrounding towns. The countermarked coinage appears to have fallen out of use by the time of the Bar Kochba Revolt, being replaced by sufficient amounts of local civic coinage.