LEGIONARY COUNTERMARKS. Legio XVI Flavia Firma, late 1st to early 2nd century AD. AE (Bronze, 16 mm, 4.20 g). Blank. Rev. Blank except, for legionary countermark: XVI in rectangular punch. Howgego -. Apparently unpublished. Host coin fine, countermarks very fine.

This countermark was applied to the completely worn host coin by the Legio XVI Flavia Firma, stationed at Satala since the 70s and at Samosata since 117, respectively. Such countermarks are well known from the Legio X Fretensis, which likely applied them in Sebaste or Aelia Capitolina in the late 1st and early 2nd century, up until the Bar Kochba Revolt in 132-135. We do not know for sure when the Legio XVI applied its countermark to our coin, but since a detachment of this Legion was also involved in the crushing of the Bar Kochba Revolt, a connection to this hard-fought campaign is certainly possible.