★ Shams' Countermark ★

Anonymous, time of Constantine IX, circa 1042-1055. Follis (Bronze, 30 mm, 9.92 g, 6 h), Class D, Constantinople. IC - XC Christ Pantokrator seated facing on throne, holding Gospels in his left hand and raising his right in blessing; c/m: Islamic inscription ('Shams') within rectangular incuse. Rev. -+-/ IS XS/ ЬASILE / ЬASIL/ - (crescent) - in five lines. DOC D 1-34. SB 1836. For countermark: Mardin pp. 30 and 36, 9. Countermark: about very fine; coin: about fine.

This countermark with the honorific 'Shams' (meaning Sun) is found regularly, which suggests it was employed by a ruler with a rather long reign. The authors of the Mardin Hoard suggest it is a countermark of the Inalid ruler of Amid, Jamal al-din Mahmud, who reigned for 43 years.