How Worn will You Go?

This one is really worn, but still identifiable. I figure it was my one chance to get a JC lifetime denarius.

Worn JC Denarius by JGGonzalez posted Jan 25, 2023 at 5:50 PM

 

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The worst I would go is VF+. Like thiscoin I won last week.
Papal States/ Avignon
AV Scudo d'oro del sole ND
Avignon Mint
Pope Julius II 1503-13
Sincona graded it good VF

 

LOL, @panzerman - you set a high bar! Here’s a recent one for me that seemed nice for type.

https://www.sullacoins.com/post/alexandria-ad-issum

 

I try to get MS coins as a rule. But/ in cases were the best case scenario only a EF is possible I will settle for that. With the Julius II Scudo/ GVF was OK/ since it was a good strike with excellent details. Also with Sincona/ CNG/ Kunker/ a GVF would equal a TPG slab AU-55-58. Some of the early AV Florins from Spain are really tough to get in good quality!

 

I usually don't purchase worn coins unless they are extremely rare and I need it for my collection. These are the most worn coins I own:


Province, City: Caria, Stratonikeia
Denomination: AR Hemidrachm
Mint: Stratonikeia (133 – 125 BC)
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right
Reverse: Eagle with spread wings standing right, IACΔI (listed as IACΩN) above, Σ-T (listed as C-T) across fields, helmet to lower right; all within incuse square
References: Meadows Group 2, 31 (O10/R27 – variant not listed); extremely rare, only known coin with Σ-T and helmet


Province, City - Reign: Moesia Inferior, Odessos - Marcus Aurelius
Denomination: AE 22
Mint: Odessos (161 – 162 AD)
Obverse: (AV KAI MA)P AVPH ANTΩ(N)EINO(C); Bare head of Marcus Aurelius, right
Reverse: OΔHC(CEITΩ)N; Nude Heracles (bearded) standing right, resting arm on club, holding lion skin
References: BMCG -; SNG Cop -; Varbanov 4314 and 4317 (var); Berlin 1902. 1064; RPC Online IV.1, 8205. Extremely rare only 1 of 3 known.


Province, City: Bithynia-Pontus, Cius
Denomination: AE 24
Mint: Cius
Obverse: ΤOΝ ΚΤΙϹΤΗΝ; head of Heracles (bearded), right
Reverse: ΚΙΑΝΩΝ; Athena standing left, holding patera and long spear, resting hand on shield
References: RPC Online IV.1, 11797. Extremely rare only 1 of 3 known.

 

I guess I didn't post this one here yet. Possibly my most worn yet identifiable coin and the most worn coin that I've ever bought on purpose (I have plenty of completely flat slugs from group lots).

Bought for my countermarks collection and as an addition to my BCD Collection-Collection (BCD Lokris-Phokis 157.5 = RPC I Online 1342 example 14, cited in RPC Consolidated Supplement [2015], p. 71). This coin nicely illustrates that the scholarly value of a coin may be entirely independent of its aesthetic appeal or commercial value.

This coin was struck in Lokri Opuntii, time of Galba, with a very rare pair of countermarks (BCD suggested this pair of countermarks may be "unique?"). Countermarks: Monogram ΛO (LO) for Lokri (GIC 620; RPC cm 743) plus head of Athena (?). (I'm not entirely convinced that the top c-mark is Athena, but I don't have any other theory; maybe a helmet?)



Roman Provincial. Lokris, Lokri Opuntii AE21 (5.95g), Magistrate M. Claudius Serapion, temp. Galba, 68/69 CE.
Obv: [ϹƐΡΑΠΙΩΝΟϹ]. Head of Persephone right, poppy head;
two countermarks: ΛO ligate (Howgego 620) & helmeted head of Athena (?).
Rev: [ΟΠΟΥΝΤΙΩΝ ƐΠΙ ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΥ]. Warrior holding spear & shield.
Ref: BCD Lokris-Phokis 157.5 (this coin) = RPC I Online 1342, example 14 (cited in RPC Consolidated Supplement [2015], p. 71).
Prov: Ex BCD Collection, NAC 55 (8 Oct 2010), Lot 157 (part); ex Dr. Francis Jarman Collection: Mints of the Roman Empire, Naumann 100 (6 Mar 2021), 1215.