Once Again: Countermarks on Umayyad Post-Reform Copper Coins

Abstract

In a note from 2012, I addressed the comparatively rare phenomenon of countermarking of
Umayyad post-reform copper coins. As a first preliminary result of a joint research project
on Umayyad coins found in Israel, conducted between the Israel Antiquities Authority
and the Austrian Academy of Sciences, some new insights into these countermarks are
presented here, largely relying on provenanced material from excavations in Israel. While
the most common type featuring an ‘A’ appears to be localized to the northern part of Bilad
al-Sham, it seems that in the south as well (i.e., jund Filastin and ul-Urdunn) some rare
countermarks were applied.