Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 1535. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 8 June 2005.  Sold For $1650. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

NERO. 54-68 AD. Æ Sestertius (27.02 gm, 7h). Lugdunum (Lyon) mint. Struck 66 AD. Laureate head left, globe at point of bust; c/m: X with bar above, all in incuse square / Annona standing right, holding cornucopiae, facing Ceres seated left, holding grain-ears and torch; modius on garlanded altar between them; ship's stern behind. For coin: RIC I 494; BMCRE -; Cohen -; for c/m: D.W. MacDowall, "Two Roman Countermarks of A.D. 68," NC 1960, 5; BN pl. B, 7 (on this coin type). VF, thick green patina, lamination in obverse field. Rare countermark. ($1000)

This rare countermark of the Legio X Gemina is found solely on Aes coinage of Nero, usually from the mint of Lugdunum. MacDowall's analysis revealed that this countermark was applied during the Civil War in 68 AD while the legion was stationed at Carnuntum.