The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 14, April 8, 2007, Article 18

RESEARCH ON ANCIENT COUNTERMARKS OF THE 10TH ROMAN LEGION

David Rinehart writes: "I'm researching the countermarks of the 10th 
Roman Legion (Legio Decima Fretensis). In 68 AD the Tenth Legion 
entered Galilee to suppress the Jewish Revolt. During the siege of 
Jerusalem, led by Titus (who would later become emperor of Rome), it 
was stationed on the Mount of Olives. Later, in 72 and 73 AD, under 
a commander named Silva, the Tenth Legion was the main Roman force 
in the battle of Masada. 

"I've been corresponding with Professor Jodi Magness of the University 
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Benny Arubas of the Hebrew 
University, who were involved in the 1995 excavations in the Roman 
siege works at Masada. I'm attempting to establish a correlation 
between the known locations of the 10th Legion Fretensis in the first 
and second centuries AD and the issuance of various varieties of 
their countermarks - both from published single examples and hoards. 

"The host coins that display the countermarks will also provide 
circumstantial data for my research. I'm attempting to obtain as 
much published literature as possible to assist me. Because this 
is a rather narrow field of research, there isn't a vast amount 
of information in print available.

"I'm looking for the November, 1974 issue of The Numismatist magazine 
(Vol. 87, No. 11). It contains an article by Gregory G. Brunk titled 
'The Ancient Countermarks' The above citation is for part one of a 
three-part series. I've already located the Dec. 1974 and Jan. 1975 
issues that complete the series.

Any assistance your readers could provide me in locating the November, 
1974 issue of The Numismatist would be much appreciated. Thank you."

[If anyone could quickly put their hands on the issue or make a 
photocopy for David, let me know and I'll put you in touch. -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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