Ancients => Happy Boxing Day!! (post your poorest 2016 purchase)

Happy Boxing Day!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day

Just for fun, let's change gears and ...

=> Post your "poorest/worst" 2016 coin-purchase

Maybe this has already been done? ... if so, never mind

 

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I loved all of my 2016 purchases, but I have to admit that lookin' back, perhaps I should have eased-off the trigger on one or two ...

Although I really like this coin ... the fact that you can't read the mint is a bit of a "fail"



... however, this cute lil' rascal was merely $22 (delivered) so that's why it's in the stevex6 collection

NOTE => hey, if this is a difficult decision and/or if you didn't make any poor coin-purchases in 2016, then "congrats"

... oh, and post something else that was a "cool random-purchase"

Yah, this thread is merely a thread

 

I bought several losers this year but the one that hurts worst is the Republican bronze I have totally failed to identify. I thought it looked easy but I guess what I thought were ID signs were die breaks or something else. It has been posted here and on Frvm with no help coming. Denomination? Series? 4.26g

 

CONSIA* ???

 

this is the only coin i was disappointed in this year...



It had BD (I've treated) and very thick distracting encrustations that seemed much better (and possibly just dirt) in the sellers pics. Oh well, it was 18 bucks or something.

 

Because I am to tight to pay for a better detail Alexandrian Drachm of Domitian arch, I paid $55 US for this with deposits, thinking I could soak them off. Although I partially succeeded in thinning out the deposit I darkened the coin so the arch detail is not as easy to see with this after soaking. So a little disappointed, it is not so bad if I increase the light exposure on the pic and then you get this. Oh well it just goes to show you get what you pay for.

 

Yeah, my dog of the year is Clodius from Frank. Even Doug thought it was one of the worst. But For the price & lack of my interest in him, I am content with this roadkill for a slot filler. Plus the portrait is all I cared about and it is decent despite the wear & reverse "rays".



CLODIUS ALBINUS (193 - 195 A.D.)
AR Denarius
O: D CLOD SEPT ALBIN CAES, bare head right.
R: MINER PACIF COS II, helmeted Minerva, standing front, head left, holding olive-branch, resting hand on shield set on the ground, spear against arm.
19mm
3.34g
RIC IV 7; BMCRE 98; RSC 44.

Ex Allan Barker Collection

 

Gee, how many pages can I take up & can some be moderns?

Looking back today at some of my 2016 purchases.
I'm thinking, "What the hell was I thinking"?
Thankfully for you guys I didn't take any pictures.

 

What can I say?

EPHESOS, IONIA
AE11
OBVERSE: E-F, bee
REVERSE: Forepart of stag recumbent right, head left
Sturck at Ephesos, ca 387-289 BC
11mm, 1.63 g
SNGCop 244

 

I'm currently putting together my 2016 Top Ten list, so this is a nice little diversion.

I bought a few ugly coins this year, but I think this one must be one of the worst looking of the bunch.


Vespasian
AR Denarius, 3.04g
Ephesus Mint, 69-70 AD
RIC 1395 (R3), BMC 430, RSC 248, RPC 805 (1 spec.)
Obv: IMP CAES VESPAS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: LIBERI IMP AVG VESPAS; Titus and Domitian veiled, togate, stg. front (heads l.), each with patera
Ex CNG E368, 10 February 2016, lot 406.

Very rare but very worn and corroded. Ex CNG, apparently even Clio passed on it.

 

I think that's a pretty neat coin david! I had a very ugly coin make my top 10 list because, as ugly as it was, it has been fun to own. It's probably less hideous than the coin I posted here....but the coin on this thread was just a let down.

top 10 list coin...




ugly....but not disappointing. buried in a lot of low grade coins common coins, was very fun to research, turns out being a rare and interesting coin. number 10 on my top 10 list. I'll probably own it until I croak.

the coin I first posted in this thread is also ugly, but was just disappointing to me for the reasons I mention above. I'd send it back if i could.

is your ugliest coin necessarily your worst purchase?

 

Yours has better flan shape and less wear; mine (from a show in November) is more worn but smoother and has a weak mintmark.

 

Much better eye appeal than my coin. Is this what you'd call 'honest wear'? I would.

Also, your coin having a mint mark at all is the big difference! Mine without one is from the first issue at Ephesus, yours is from the second issue. Here's my example from the second issue with mint mark.


Vespasian
AR Denarius, 2.99g
Ephesus Mint, 69-70 AD
RIC 1404 (R), BMC p. 90 note, RSC 248 var., RPC 811 (4 spec.)
Obv: IMP CAES VESPAS AVG; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r.
Rev: LIBERI IMP AVG VESPAS; Titus and Domitian veiled, togate, stg. front (heads l.), each with patera; in exergue, horizontal Φ
Ex Imperial coins VAuction 274, 15 December 2011, lot 117.

I prefer yours.

 

I think this one cost me $15.




Commodus Denarius. 179-180 AD. L AVREL COMMODVS AVG, laureate cuirassed bust right / TR P V IMP III COS II P P, Fortuna seated left with rudder & cornucopiae, wheel under seat. RIC 2, RSC 779-779b, BMC 810-812

 

Hey, I'm off work all this week ...



... oh, but sadly I don't have any coin-cash ...

=> still, a total winner holidays season full of eats, drinks and be-merries!!

 

I would be happy to have either one.

 

I think Doug's republican coin is an Uncia , Roma looking right with one dot behind her neck, weight 4,26 minted around 210 BC.

Here is my worst coin, looked better in the sellers pic, paid $10 for it.

 

Weird flan (recycled serrate denarius maybe?), areas of flat striking, scratches, and a sprinkle of mud-coloured deposits for good measure. Yeah, it's pretty poor, but heck, I still love it .


ROMAN REPUBLIC
L. Titurius L.f. Sabinus, moneyer
AR Denarius. 3.96g, 20.6mm. Rome mint, 89 BC. Crawford 344/1a; Sydenham 698. O: SABIN, bareheaded and bearded head of King Tatius right; ligate TA (for Tatius) to right. R: The Kidnapping of the Sabine Women : two soldiers, facing each other, each carrying off a Sabine woman in his arms; L TITVRI in exergue.

 

OK, this one does not get my love, and definitely belongs in the 'What on Earth was I Thinking!' category.

Seller had it marked as a Titus Sesterz, Roma RIC 425.

I guess the lighting at the show was poor, or I was just too tired after a whole day of walking the aisles at the last Numismata Show.
In the cold light of day the surfaces appear shiny (polished, or once varnished, or at least heavily smoothed), the overall appearance soft....

Don't yet know what to make of it. At least it was not too expensive, got it for under 130 euros.

Titus, as Caesar (AD 69-79). Orichalcum sestertius 24.145 gm.
Rome, under Vespasian, AD 72.
Obv: T CAES VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS II, laureate head of Titus right Rev: ROMA S - C, Roma standing left, wearing helmet and short tunic, holding Victory in right hand and spear in left. RIC II (Vespasian) 425

 

Mine is a Wu Zhu that is so worn that the characters can just barely be made out. To me, it is worth its weight in copper and is not worth my time to take a picture of it.