ISLAMIC, Time of the Rashidun. Pseudo-Byzantine types. Fals (Bronze, 24 mm, 3.37 g, 10 h), imitating a EN T૪TO NIKA follis of Constans II, uncertain mint, circa AH 19-39 = AD 641-660. OTO OCT Imperial figure standing facing, wearing crown surmounted by cross, holding long cross in his right hand and globus cruciger in his left. Rev. Large m flanked by blundered legend; above cross; in exergue, ONO; in field to left, countermark. H. Pottier, I. Schulze and W. Schulze: 'Pseudo-Byzantine Coinage...', in: RBN 154 (2008), Class IV, groub b; Cf. T. Goodwin, 'Countermarks from after the Arab Conquest' in: Supplement to ONS 183 (2005), p. 42, Fig. 1, A9 (for countermark). An attractive example with an interesting countermark. Very fine.

The countermark on the reverse of this coin, which was likely applied somewhere in Filastin, perhaps reads 'ΠATPIKI(OC) XAPT(O)VΛAPI(OC)' ('Patrikios Chartoularios' in Greek). A chartoularios was a junior official, who could be responsible for monetary or fiscal affairs of a town, even long after the Arab conquest. We kindly thank T. Goodwin for his valuable contributions to the discussion of this issue