Lydia, Klannudda
2nd-1st centery BCE
AE 19mm 6.33g
Obv: laureate head of Zeus right; countermark, star
Rev: ΚΛΑΝ / ΝΟΥΔ – ΔΕ/ΩΝ, eagle standing right on thunderbolt, wings closed
BMC 22. 68, 2; SNG Tübingen 3705
Klanudda was located roughly halfway between Aludda and Philadelphia. We know very little about the city outside of its coinage. This type, with a reverse containing an eagle on a thunderbolt, is relatively generic. What I find interesting is the star countermark. I found no other examples sold with such a countermark, though I’m sure they exist.
A countermark such as this was likely performed to use the coin for a longer period of time. It may have been marked by another city to allow its usage there, or there may have been a currency change in Klannudda itself, and this countermark was used to allow the coin to continue to circulate. Its wear suggests that it was in usage for a longer period of time.