42 Nummi Countermark, As of Claudius, 41-54

The Ostrogoths struck no substantial bronze coinage of their own and instead relied on overstruck or countermarked Roman material to meet the needs of circulation in Italy. Reusing worn Claudian asses — already five centuries old by the time Theoderic's administration processed them — was a pragmatic solution to a chronic bronze shortage. The countermark certifying 42 nummi reflects the Ostrogothic numismatic system's direct inheritance from late Roman denominational reckoning.

Claudian asses were apparently abundant enough in Italian soil and hoards to make them a preferred host coin for this practice.