Obolos 15

MYSIA. Kyzikos. Circa 6th century BC. Obol (Silver, 10 mm, 0.65 g). Tunny fish swimming to left; below, countermark in the form of a quadripartite incuse square; above, uncertain countermark . Rev. Quadripartite incuse square. SNG Tübingen 2210. SNG von Aulock 7328. Von Fritze II 5. A toned, attractive, and intriguing coin. Very fine.

The appearance of what is clearly a reverse type, the quadripartite incuse square, as a countermark is worthy of note. A quite similar countermark is found on 6th and early 5th century Aeginetan staters, placed there in the later 5th century by the Aeginetan authorities to guarantee them for continued use, after the period when Aegina had lost her autonomy to Athens. Whether the countermark on this Kyzikene obol is an official mark (from where?) or just an interesting private banker's mark is, at present, uncertain.