Wretched rarities!

A recent thread on "worst coins" inspired this post, which I call "Wretched rarities"

These are atrocious coins that look like they should have been put out of their misery long ago, but which are extremely rare and thus a treasured part of our collection. These could scarcely be replaced, even with unlimited funds, just because of the overall difficulty finding another.

I'll start with a few examples:



Sceat of Æthelwald Moll, king of Northumbria 759-765 with Ecgberht, Archbishop of York
Mint: York (presumably)
S. 853
N. 192.5
Abramson 76-10
O: +EDILhpLd
R: ECGBERhT A[R]

Æthelwald, also called Moll, was a nobleman who ascended the throne after the murder of King Oswulf, which he may have orchestrated. He was deposed after some years, and went to a monastery. His son Æthelred I would later become king in Northumbria as well.
Only 5 coins of Aethelwald are known. This particular example has been known since the early 19th century. Despite the damage, it was recognized for its rarity and was first published in 1841, where it was drawn for the article. For nearly 200 years it was the only example known, though metal detecting has brought to light 4 other examples in the last few years.




Penny of Wiglaf, king of Mercia (second reign) 830-839
Moneyer: Redmund
Mint: London
S. 934
N 401.2
O: +VVIGLAF REX M
R: N +REDMV D

Wiglaf was king of Mercia from 827-839. His reign was interrupted from 829-830 by the conquest of Mercia by Ecgberht of Wessex, who took London in 829. The occupation was short lived however, and Wiglaf regained his throne the next year.

Despite a relatively long rule (compared to other 9th century Mercian kings), coins of Wiglaf are excessively rare. There are two types, one with a portrait of the king by the moneyer Aethelhun, and a nonportrait type by the moneyers Burgherd and Redmund. Redmund also struck coins for King Ecgberht when he occupied Mercia. The portrait coins are typically assigned to Wiglaf's first reign while the nonportrait type is given to the second reign, but this is a guess at best. There are only 11 or 12 coins of this king known, with about half in museums.




Penny of David I of Scotland (1124-1153)
Mint: Carlisle
Moneyer: Erebald
Imitation of Henry I BMC XV
S. 5001
O: +DA[VI]D [ ]
R: [+]EREBA[LD: O]N C[A]RD[:]

Believed to be the first coin made in Scotland. It imitates Henry I's last type but in the name of David. Made by the moneyer Erebald, who coined for Henry, David, and Stephen. Presumably produced after David's invasion of England following the usurpation of Stephen of Blois. This coin really demonstrates the Anarchy of the time. A masterpiece it is not! Poorly made, with only a few survivors known, most of which are in wretched shape. As far as I can tell, all known examples are from the same die pair. There are probably about 10 known, including damaged examples.




Penny or halfpenny of John, lord of Ireland, or of John de Courcy, lord of Ulster
Mint: unknown (probably Dublin)
Moneyer: Raul Blunt
S. 6203
O: +IOA[NNES], bust right
R: [+RA]VL BLVNT

This coin is generally considered the first Anglo-Irish coin produced in Ireland. It dates from the end of the 12th century, though it is not quite clear who issued it. The name on the obverse is just "John". The figure is not crowned. It could be King John (not yet a king) who was declared Lord of Ireland in 1177 by his father Henry II. Or the John could be John de Courcy who was in control of Ulster at the same time. This coin dates from around 1179. Both Lord John and John de Courcy would both issue coinage.

The "profile right" coinage is exceedingly rare. Besides this coin, there are some 12-15 other specimens known. Three moneyers are known- Raul Blunt, Elis of Dublin, and Roger Tan. Given the reference to Dublin by the moneyer Elis, the coins are thought to be produced there and thus attributed to Lord John, future King John. However, Derek Allen has argued in the past that the coins all depict moneyers with last names and that does not clearly indicate where the coins were made. John de Courcy minted at Carrickfergus and Downpatrick and the lettering of these coins is similar to de Courcy's coinage. So the jury remains out on which John.



Let's see your wretched rarities! I'd like to see other worn, broken, scratched, holed, and otherwise messed up pieces of great scarcity.

 

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If you are a specialist collector and on the lookout for rarities, you can't be a condition crank. For example, this may be only the second known example of this one with a left-facing bust.


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 18.93 g, 31.7 mm, 5 h.
Rome, mid AD 152-autumn 154.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, left.
Rev: VENVS S C, Venus standing left, holding apple and scepter.
Refs: RIC –; BMCRE 2185n.; Cohen –; RCV --; Strack 1322.

 

Those coins don't look wretched to me. I'd have the Æthelwald Moll and Wiglaf tomorrow!

This one isn't rare, but it's rarity comes from it being one of around 20 found in the UK. The reason that matters is because it was the coin used as the inspiration for the first British coins. Since they were all well-circulated before they got to Britain, and were lost singularly rather than being protected by hoards, most are terrible. I have seen one that is pretty good, but it sold for more than I could afford.

Massalia Hemiobolion, late 3rd to mid-2nd century BC

Bronze, 15mm, 3.92g. Head of Apollo left. Bull butting right, MA above (for Massalia) (ABC 115). Found near Dover, Kent.

Most of my wretched coins are in that condition not because they're so rare I couldn't get a better one, but because the ones that are in very good condition are rare and very expensive. This is my filler for a Hadrian Britannia, waiting for the day I win the lottery and can upgrade it to a really nice one.

Hadrian As, 119

Rome. Bronze, 10g. Laureate bust right; IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG. Britannia seated facing, holding sceptre, large shield to right; PONT MAX T R POT COS III; BRITANNIA in exergue (RIC II.3, 241). The first representation of Britannia.

 

I could never bring myself to assign the descriptor "wretched" to these two examples. But I'm OK with "worn", "broken", and "messed up". Both are relative rarites -- especially the 2nd one.


Justin II, 565-578AD.
AR Half Siliqua, .6 gr. (low weight for obvious reason).
Ravenna mint.
Obv.: D N IVSTINVS P P AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right.
Rev.: Tau-rho on base (no globe/globus), star to left & right; within wreath.
Attrib.: DOC I 215; MIB II 41; SB 412.



Constantine I, posthumous.
Lugdunum/Lyons, AE follis.
Obv.: DIVO CONSTANTINVS P; veiled, laureate bust, right. (Horizontal flan crack at ear level.)
Rev.: AETERNA PIETAS; Constantine standing left in military dress, holding globe surmounted by tau-rho. Mintmark (presumably PLG) off flan.
Diam.: 14.5 mm. Weight: 1.31 gr.
Attrib.: RIC VIII Lyons 3.

 

Here is one from Heritage Paramount Sale; sold for $240K + fees.

I cringed when I saw that some "buffoon" etched "25" on this coin. Two things come to mind/ one/ why did the Salzburg Mint not put a Value mark" ie 25 Dukaten on coin? I would not have paid 240K for a vandalized coin.
Two/ why would anyone desecrate this beauty? Probably a third question/ why cannot our modern mints make coins like that anymore?????? Instead of the the bland/ uninspiring coins we have today

 

Fun thread idea and wonderful coins!
One man's wretched is another man's cherry coin with a small issue. But rarities are rare for all.
Here are a few ugly buddies of mine that you don't see often, and to mix it up, from Greece.
Everybody loves Crete. Here's one I've not shared and his popular friend
Crete. Gortyna circa 85-82 BC.
Bronze Æ
12 mm, 2,06 g
Head of Hermes right, wearing petasos / Bull standing right, with head lowered, [ΓΟΡΤ] below.
nearly very fine
Svoronos, Numismatique de la Crete ancienne 188 var. (kerykeion above bull); SNG Copenhagen 454-6 var. (bull butting); cf. CNG E-345, lot 41. Previous Savoca silver 95 lot 94 Feb 2021.
Purchased from Savoca November 2021


mso-ansi-language:EN">CRETE, KNOSSOS.
AE (2.54 g), approx. 200-67 BC BC: head of the bearded Zeus to the right. Back: Labyrinth between ΚΝΩΣΙ / ΩΝ. Svoronos, Crete 116.2.00, Lindgren. Nice. Ex BAC Numismatics 2/9/20201
And another coin I keep putting off doing a write up on:

LESBOS. Uncertain. BI 1/12 Stater (Circa 500-450 BC).
Obv: Head of African right.
Rev: Uneven incuse square.
SNG von Aulock 7715; SNG Copenhagen 295 var. (head left); HGC 6, 1086.
Excellent portrait.
Condition: Very fine.
Weight: 0.85 g.
Diameter: 8 mm.
Purchased from Savoca 4/2021
"We know that the Greeks were well acquainted with black Africans, since they appear often in Greek literature as mythical or semi-mythical characters and warriors; it appears that they were known in the Greek world as early as the Minoan period, where they were employed by Minoan commanders as auxiliary troops. Indeed, if we may believe Quintus of Smyrna, the Greeks encountered black Africans in the army of Memnon at Troy. Black African contingents also formed a part of Xerxes' army and according to some scholars fought at Marathon (see Frazer, J. G., 1913: Pausanias' Description of Greece, II. Macmillan, London, pg. 434; and Graindor, P., 1908: Les Vases au Nègre. Musée Belge, pg. 29).
Of the surviving art objects representing black Africans, many appear to be the work of artists who modelled from life. These depictions invariably display an astonishing degree of individuality, vitality, and energy, presenting scenes and designs that appealed to the craftsmen; one might surmise that the exotic appearance of such individuals presented the artist with a challenge to represent the distinctive features of black peoples. The closest parallels we find in the numismatic record for this portrait can be seen in a very rare hekte issue from Phokaia (Bodenstedt 24), the silver staters of an uncertain (possibly Karian) mint that have appeared in 2008 (Gemini IV, 195) and 2009 (NAC 52, 177) that bear an incuse head of a negroid man, and a very rare series of coins from Kyzikos."

And this coin might not look too wretched but was a black rock completely covered in super hard muck when I got it in a lot with no idea what was underneath. A few hours of electrolysis fixed that and 2,000 years or so of being wretched...and turns out it's a rare coin of Argos (that's right! where the Argonauts get their name) with a rare head of Hera!:

Argolis, Argos
Æ Dichalkon. Circa 280270/60
BCE Head of Hera
right, wearing stephane inscribed
APΓE/Athena
Promachos left. BCD
Peloponnesos1100-4;
3.90g, 18mm 6h.
Very Fine

 

How rare should something be to attract interest despite condition? And where does one draw the line and the condition becomes paramount despite any other consideration?

Constantine II as Consul for the second time in 321 at Augusta Treverorum:




Ioannes and Alexios Asen, lords in Thrace and Thassos ca. 1356-1366 'the Diokitirion Square Trachion':



+ * IACS [D]Є [...]CTA * - possibly Latin malcontent barons in Morea for Jaime de Majorca ca. 1330s:

 

That Hadrian is not bad! I've a number in worse shape make decent prices.

 

That's a beautiful design. I guess whomever had such a coin wanted to make sure they remembered the value. I would imagine if they didn't get the full value for that coin, it would have been quite a loss.

It looks like there is graffiti on the left of the tower too?

 

These funeral pyre types for Claudius II are rare, much rarer than the common eagle or altar CONSECRATIO types. In any condition, they’re usually more expensive than most want to spend for a Claudius II coin. I lucked across this one in wretched shape and love it.

DIVUS CLAUDIUS II GOTHICUS
Cyzicus.
Obv: DIVO CLAVDIO. Radiate head right.
Rev: CONSECRATIO. Three-tiered funeral pyre, with multiple figures.
RIC V 256v

 

Well, if I think about it, my ancient coins collection consists in 90% wretched coins, to one degree.
I am not bothered and I like them. The conditions are
- the coin can be clearly identified, the legend, if it's partial, needs to bring a certain result, or the design to be clear.
- the coin needs to be in my area of interest - I have no issues with a wretched Trajan denarius (if it respects the first condition) but I would not buy a Probus bad coin for example.
- I need to like the coin! (and this would be the main condition). A worn coin can have a beautiful design, can have an attractive toning....
- the price needs to be good.

Here are 3 recent acquisitions I have no problems with.




Anonymous 217-215 BC. Rome
Quartuncia Æ
16 mm, 2,46 g
Obv: Head of Roma, right, wearing Attic helmet. / Rev: Roma, Prow, right
RRC 38/8

I would not call this coin rare, but you don't see the quartuncia every day. The portrait is clear, the reverse could have been better but overall a good catch.




Macedon. Thessalonica. Tiberius and Livia AD 14-37.
Bronze Æ
21 mm, 8,41 g
Obv: ΤΙ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ, head of Tiberius, r. / ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΕΩΝ, bust of Livia, r
RPC I 1567, Touratsoglou, Tiberius 38–61 (c. 22–3 and later)

Leaves a lot to be desired, but I like the toning, the portrait of Tiberius and you do not see Livia everyday (well, you don't clearly see her on this coin either, but...)




Macedon. Thessalonica. Mark Antony
Bronze Æ
25 mm, 11,01 g
Roman Republic, Macedonia, Thessalonica, Mark Anthony and Octavian, year 5 (37 BC)
Obv ΑΓΩΝΟΘΕΣΙΑ, head of Agonothesia, r. / Rev ΑΝΤ ΚΑΙ in wreath
RPC I 1552a, BMC 64, Cop 375

I bought this with 2 main reasons - this is my only RR provincial coin and it is from the times of M. Antony and Octavian. This was enough to add it.

Prices for these coins are, in EUR, 10/10/19.
I wouldn't pay much more but for me they are good additions.

 

This is a question to ponder. With some coins, it's obvious, but others less so.

My thought was that the coin should be nearly unobtainable in any grade, or unobtainable in higher grade according to one's budget. Obviously there is some subjectivity as to what a budget could be. You could probably obtain a most wretched Athenian tet if your budget is only $100, though these coins are certainly not rare in high grade. On the other hand, there are some rare varieties of coins that probably are dirt cheap just due to lack of knowledge or interest.

Ok, here is my definition:
To be a rarity, a coin must be difficult to obtain (rare), with a small number known (pick your number, but I'd say less than 100 for a major variety or monarch, and less than 20 for a minor variety). To be wretched, the coin must be impaired beyond just a low grade, with damage of sorts, and would certainly look out of place in a high quality collection, such as Hunt, Norweb, Garrett, etc.

The accident of appearance at auction is challenging. For example, I showed a coin of Aethelwald Moll above. There are 5 known. Four of these have appeared at auction in the last 5 years, and the 5th traded hands privately. Maybe another won't appear on the market for 20 years, maybe it will appear next year. Pure happenstance in any case.

Here's another challenging one that I'm on the fence as to whether to call it a wretched rarity. A penny of Matilda, disputed queen of England 1139-1148



Penny of Matilda, queen of England (disputed) 1139-1148
Mint: Cardiff
Moneyer: Bricmer
S.1326
N.936
O: [MATI]LLIS IMP
R: [+BRIC]MER:CAIE[RDI]

There are probably around 100 coins known of Matilda, a contender for the throne of England in the 12th century during a period called "The Anarchy". Many are in museums, but it's still not a truly rare issue. And this coin, broken in three parts and glued together by the Museum of Wales back in 1982, certainly is somewhat wretched. But is it enough of a rarity for the coveted title of "wretched rarity"? High grade unimpaired examples are out of my budget, despite that most examples don't look much better than this due to poor manufacturing at this time. This is because of demand from collectors trying to obtain "one of each monarch", a challenging task even if you start at William the Conqueror.

 

MARCUS ANTONIUS
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: ANT AVG III VIR R P C, Praetorian galley, thyrsos behind prow
REVERSE: LEG IIII, legionary eagle between two standards
Patrae 32-31 BC
3.3g, 17mm
RSC 29; Syd 1220, Cr544/16

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I enjoy coins that are difficult to find, and condition means little to me.


RI Alexandria Livia, w Augustus Diobol CE 1-2 Æ 23.5mm 7.46g. Rev. Athena holding Nike Sheild ex Dattari-Savio Pl. 3 60-this coin RPC pag. 692-5-this coin R


Troas Assos 500-450 BCE AR Tetartemorion 6.4mm 0.21g Griffin springing right - Astragalos within incuse square Klein 475 VF R


ETRURIA
Rasenna, Fufluna, (Etruria, Populonia)
1-As: (Similar to a Roman AR - nothing - only an As is Bronze in Roman Currency)

Etruria Populonia
AR 1 As 0.60g 10.0mm
after 211 BCE
Obv: Male Head Left
Rev: Plain Rev
Ref: Vecchi 3 68-70 HN Italy 181
Seller/Auction comment: R



RR Anon Ca 240 BCE AR Heavy Quinarius Drachm 16mm 3.0g Rome Helmet Hd Mars r - Horse’s hd sickle Cr 25-2 Syd 25 RSC 34a R
5 Asses = Quinarius



Roman Republic
AR Heavy Denarius / Didrachm
275-270 BCE (R
17.7 x 20.7 oblong strike, 7.3g
OBV: ROMANO, laurel head of Apollo l
REV: Horse galloping r, star above
Crawford 13/1; Sear 23



Makedon Alexander I 498-454 BCE AR Obol 10mm 0.75g Horse - Quadripartite incuse sq SNG ANS 32 R



RR Anon 210 BCEAE 23 Quincunx 6.96g Apollo P behind Dioscuri Luceria 5 pellets Cr 99-4 Syd 309 S 910 Very Rare



Ex: Warren Esty @Valentinian
Extremely rare AE2 of Verina,
wife of Leo I, 457-475
According to ERIC II, the 167th most common Roman person on coins. That's rare!
20 mm. Corroded.
This is the only AE type for her.
AEL VERINA AVG
SALVS REPVBLICAE,
Victory seated right,
inscribing chi-rho on shield.
CONE in exergue
RIC X, 656, "R3" (extremely rare) possibly minted at Constantinople as the mint mark says, but circulated only near Cherson, in the north Black Sea Crimean region.
Not great condition



RI Diocletian Ӕ Quinarius 1.46g 16mm Rome AD 284-305 IOVI CONSERVAT AVGG, Jupiter stndng thunderbolt sceptre RARE RIC 193



Marsic Confederation
AR Denarius
89 BCE
Italia-
Italia seated shields vict
Corfinium Campana retro B
105 HN Italy 412a Sear 228 RARE

 

That is a much nicer funeral cake than my best example, which isn't even a cake. I admit I've never seen a cake like yours before.


On the other side of the coin, almost every barb can be considered "rare," and I've yet to see a barb funeral pyre as funky as this. I appreciate the attempt at an obv legend; the "DI---" helps ID this as Claudius II and not some random mule.

 

This is apparently a rare issue of Plautilla. If you can guess the reverse you can have it

 

Tarsus, Macrinus, rev. Apollo Lykeios. Wretched but very rare !

 

Here are some of my wretched rarities! I posted a couple of these in the other post, but they are still relevant here

Carausius Antoninianus - ADVENTVS AVG


Carausius antoninianus - VIRTVS CARAVSI AVG obverse legend with bust left, holding shield and sceptre


Gordian III antoninianus fouree, RINICIPI IVVENTVTIS (sic!) reverse. Unpublished reverse for Gordian III, even with correct spelling (but barbarous).


Philip I antoninianus - SECVRITAS PERPET (fouree). This reverse legend was apparently only used on Gordian III sestertii... and this?


Postumus antoninianus, bust as Hercules. Unpublished and apparently unique with ORIENS AVG reverse. Probably a fouree (as it's plated and very light)


Valerian I antoninianus - VOTA ORBIS. Very rare with bust left


Balbinus antoninianus. Possibly another fouree

 

THAT is one of my favorites!

 

Macedon, Amphipolis
AE Semis, 21mm, 9.0g, 12h; 187-31BC
Obv.: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Rev.: AMΦIΠO / ΛITΩN; prow right, S to left, monograms to right.
Reference: cf. SNG Cop 69 / Rare
Ex: @John Anthony
COMMENT: This is minted by locals in Amphipolis during the Roman Republic control of Macedonia. Clearly inspired by RR bronze types, with the local variations of a very long-necked figurehead



Makedon Amyntas II 395-393 BCE Æ12 2.0g Aigai or Pella mint Hd Pan - Forepart wolf chewing bone SNG Alpha Bank 179-80 Very Rare



Carthage AE 15-Shekel 45mm dia 7.5mm thick 102.6g 201-175 BCE Hannibal Tanit 4hoove down Horse SNG Cop 400 RARE 1



China Zhou -Chou- 1000-200 BCE Dynasty Bronze cowrie Tong Bei - VF - Rare



Persia Achaemenid Empire
Darius I
510-486 BCE
AR 0.11g 5mm
FRACTIONAL 1/32nd Siglos
Persian hero-king is running
incuse
Klein 758 Rare