My Worst Coin

@Alegandron, you know it's a bad day when your horse looks better than you do.
Steve

 

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You can call that the "Al Pacino Scar Face" variety

 

Damn(atio)! I win!

 

I wish I'd waited to buy a better Persian siglos. Good metal is the only thing going for this example.

 

This is why I shy away from LRB/Byzantine coins

MARCIAN
AE4
OBVERSE: D N MARCIANVS P F AVG, diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: Monogram of Marcian in wreath, + above, S below, CON in ex
Struck at Constantinople 450-7AD
1.6g, 10mm
RIC 545

LEO I
AE4
OBVERSE: D N LEO P F AVG, diademed & draped bust right
REVERSE: Lion crouching left, head turned, all in wreath, broken by mintmark CON below.
Struck at Constantinople 457-74 AD
1.0g, 9mm
RIC 674

JUSTINIAN I
AE Pentanummium
OBVERSE: DN IVSTINIANVS PP AVG, pearl diademed, draped, cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: Monogram of Cherson
Struck at Cherson, 527-65 AD
1.6g, 14mm
SB 197

 

Sad thing is... that is Pegasus on the reverse... But, it is a Social war issue against the Marsic Confederation. Incredibly rich Roman Republican History. The Romans lost the War (conceded all of the demands to the Italians), but won an Empire... If they had WON the War, I doubt if we would have had a Roman Empire...

 

It ain't pretty but it was my first purchase...

 

I think that AJ's is by far the worst looking coin (it's a bit embarrassing actually)

*awkward*

... for $50 I will take that disgusting puppy off of your hands (I'm kinda like your ancient coin wing-man, dawg)



Oh, and if you have any more of those losers in your collection, then we'll work-out some sort of bulk garbage-deal

=> you da man, Mr. Bond

 

As far as post-minting preservation state is concerned (and not mint-related issues), this is the worst coin I have. It is a Fine at best...kind of rough and in poor shape, with the upper left quadrant of the reverse particularly badly eroded... but it is very rare which is why I bought it.

 

This is by far the WORST! I have been trying to figure WHY I bought it... too many beers that day...


Listed as an ancient AES Gingerius Snapenius Yummus

 

hey man, i found a hoard of those in my kitchen last night!

 

Um... peanut butter or ginger flavor?

 

One of my ugliest RR bronzes. Corroded, struck off center and on a somewhat ragged flan but I bought it and I love it. Why? This type, the uncia from the Central Italian "victory" series(victory is flying to the right above the prow on the reverse) is extremely rare. I haven't seen an example come up for sale since I started collecting, nor is there an example in any of the major RR bronze auction catalogs in my library(RBW, Goodman, Vecchi 3, etc.) or on ACSearch, so I didn't let this example pass me by. Like most of my bronzes I hope I can upgrade one day but I doubt it.

 

THAT is an incredible coin! It is NOT the worst, Dude!

 

You have a pretty nice worst coin if IMO.

 

I have other coins that are not as well preserved, but this one's style sent it to the top of my 'worst' list.

 

Got this in a batch of uncleaned coins. Had just enough of the obverse inscription to identify it as Vitellius.
Some day I'll replace it, maybe, but for now it's the best I can do:

Bronze As
Spanish (Tarraco?) mint
Obv: A VITELLIVS - IMP GERMAN
Rev: VICTORIA AVGVSTI - Victory, with shield inscribed S P Q R, between S and C
RIC 46
29mm, 8.4g.

 

here is a pretty rough coin that has a workshop that isn't listed in RIC

Constantine I
A.D. 320
18x19mm 2.9gm
CONST-ANTINVS AVG; laureate helmet and cuirassed bust.
REV: Laurel wreath enclosing VOT/ XV FEL / XX RT
RIC VII Rome 219

 

This isn't easy because I have so many bad coins. This one has to be up there though.

Probus
Obv:– IMP C PROBVS AVG, Radiate cuirassed bust left with spear over right shoulder
Rev:– TEMPOR FELICIT, Felicitas standing right, holding caduceus and cornucopiae
Minted in Lugdunum (II in exe) Emission 8 Officina 2. Autumn to Late A.D. 281
Reference:– Cohen -. Bastien -. RIC 108 (Rare)

This is a rare reverse type for Probus from Lugdunum. Bastien didn't find any examples when compiling his reference on the coinage though he must have overlooked the example in RIC from the Webb collection which I believe ended up in the BM. This coin is an obverse die match to the plate coin in RIC and would appear to be the second known example of this bust type for Probus from Lugdunum. And it is UGLY.

 

I DO believe if it is a cared for, preserved coin of which VERY FEW are available (RARE), then your stewardship makes this coin BEAUTIFUL. Thanks Martin!