Top Three Worst Coin Designs

I'm gonna go with regular more circulated coins in my list, there are a ton of commemorative that would make the fugly list.

My 3 worst designs are in order:

1. Eisenhower Dollar (That head, ughh.. that's all I can say, that head on that coin is just hideous, maybe if they had some stars or some design around it would take the focus on that plain ugly head on the obverse)
2. Washington Quarter (primarily the '32-'98, I know, I'm gonna get crap for this but I just think it's an ugly design, obverse and reverse)
3. Seated Liberty - All (just not a great obverse design, even in MS quality, it's like a kindergartner designed it, but I still collect them)

 

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Eisenhower--one of the most beloved presidents, a war hero, presided over one of the most positive eras in U.S. history. An ugly duckling for sure, but to honor him was the right thing to do. Too bad a better artist did not make the coin more attractive, just as there are good and bad designs of Washington coinage.

The Washington quarter--a great coin and a workhorse of commerce, but only the silver ones IMO. I have no objections to either obverse or reverse of the silver version.

Seated liberty, also a good artistic design.

When Roosevelt was looking to re-invigorate U.S. coinage he turned to Saint-Gaudens who was the best in the field. Everything that came from SG was great, including his fellow artists who did subsequent designs. SG's original inspiration were the Greek and Roman artists.

 

A Future Coin To Be Reviled!

A controversial subject, as imagination and subjectivity can create many candidates. I personally dislike the depiction of Susan B. Anthony and Eisenhower coins, but as a third choice I would nominate an envisioned future coin.

I could believe it inevitable that our current president would be commemorated with a full frontal smile Obverse on a large denomination coin, possibly a $100 40% Silver coin which might allow sales to help balance the budget. It would save the government much more than printing the paper version. Imagine the savings!!

A $100 politically correct coin with an Obverse slogan: IN CHANGE WE TRUST. It could have a Reverse which shows paper currency floating away into the Sunset. The Reverse identifying phrase UNITED STATES OF AMERICA could be immediately followed by a question mark, and the 100 Dollars denomination embossed on the rim in micro letters. It could be sized as other large denomination coins in the past, so that a vending machine accepting quarters would accept it. I believe the quarter dollar size coin would reduce costs for retrofitting existing equipment, and create positive vendor acceptance. LOL

Just a fools nomination for foolish times.

 

Yes, with a halo over his head, or with the wife and daughters, and then a reverse featuring the United Nations, people of all types singing Kumbaya around a roaring fire, smiling from ear to ear! How do you supposed that would go over?

 

Aww, come on. Really? The SL is ugly well worn, but you think its better than SBA's, those ugly late 1800's gold coins, late large cent designs, or a roosevelt dime? I know taste is a matter of preference, and I would never say the SL was our best design by a long shot, I just don't think its nearly as bad as many other designs.

Everyone has different opinions though, I respect that, just maybe wanted you to rethink that choice RC.

 

Roosevelt dimes. Yuck!

The Presidential dollars and new Jefferson nickels. The eyes are just spooky and it makes the coin look like a joke.

 

Alright the three that I do not care for:
1) Kennedy Half Dollar
2) President Golden Dollars
3) New Jefferson Nickel (Like the others I do not like Jefferson staring at me.)


BTW, I love the buffalo nickel.

 

Doesn't get much uglier than this.

 

I just don't think it was a really thought out design. I might think it's ugly but it doesn't stop me from collecting them.

As for the Roosevelt, I almost picked that one but I actually like the reverse design, not so much the obverse. So the reverse is what saved it from making my top 3.

The only reason I didn't go with the Presidential is, I see it as more of an educational coin and I can't just say Presidential dollars as not all are bad, maybe some of those schmucks are ugly but that's not the coin engravers fault, they're just depicting what the President looked like from a portrait.

I'd have to say the Kennedy half is up there as well, probably 4th or 5th on my list. The reverse isn't horrible but the obverse is not great either. I think we'd have better looking coins though if we just did away with Presidential profile or portrait type shots on the coins on our regular circulated coinage.

 

1) ike
2) ike
3) ike
i showed a couple to my grandkids and they started crying!!!!!!

 

Shield Nickel
Liberty Head V Nickel
President Dollars

 

Morgan Dollar

 

Wow, the sacred cow. Prepare for the booos.

 

Well, I've often heard that "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach", so I guess she must have been a good cook

 

I think the buff was a beautiful design with poor edge and date planning. I think the weat was nice for its time but a bit overrated today. As for the Susan B. Anthony, I think it was poorly made to look exactly like a quarter. Are you getting at the actual design of the coin or the contruction of the coin? Although I have come to collect them, I think the design of the 1976 bicentenial quarter could have looked WAY better in terms of the design.

Just my thoughts about the kind of coinage I deal with in circulation.

-tbud

 

Anyone see this design for 2012 ATB Hawaii National Park? I am afraid this design is a dud. Not only is the design bad, but it also misrepresents this type of volcano. It could have been a great design but alas no. (Most ATB quarters I like very much)

 

Eh, I somewhat agree with CCmint. Not my top 3, maybe not top ten, but definitely nowhere near 1800 and 1920's coins. I just hate having a simple portrait on such a large silver coin. Think of all of the wonderful design that could fit on there.

 

This thread is interesting because it shows one man's treasure is another's trash. For me, the Buffalo nickel is the ultimate in American coinage and nothing is really very close in second.
In any event, my three worst would be:
1. Rhode Island commem. How did anyone think this was a good design?
2. Roosevelt dime
3. Susan B. Anthony -- bad bad execution.

 

For design: SBA, IKE and current Jefferson nickel
For design durability: SLQ, Buff and "V" nickel

 

Jefferson's eyes look like he's a zombie