So, I just bought this ugly coin at auction. I always wanted one of these ducats of Venice so I bought it. Besides, it has almost 3.5 g of gold. I know it is worn and has a loop attached but it still had a great deal of charm to me. It did not hurt that the cost, including BP and taxes was 120.00. I think this must be near the melt value, so why not. Here is my new "ugliest" coin. Please post your own ugly coins that for one reason or another you had to have. Italian States, Venice. Antonio Vernier (1382-1400) Gold Ducat Fr.1229
These coins are ugly to begin with, but a slip of the hand by an ancient selator (probably distracted by impure thoughts of Ivlia, the girl down the block) and he botched the nose and made it a little uglier. ROMAN REPUBLIC. P. Servilius M.f. Rullus, 100 BC. AR Denarius. (3.90 gm). Helmeted bust of Minerva / Victory driving biga. Servilia.14. Cr.328/1. VF.
There are many ugly coins at my place but this one has an excuse. It was my first Septimius Severus legionary denarius. I got it at a show in New Carrolton MD in 1987 for $10. I had studied the coins enough to know I could ID it from the remnants of legend and even then $10 was not bad for the rarest legion in the Septimius series. LEG XXII PRI coins often have part legends an this one has the PRI at reverse right which is more than you can say about many of them. It got me interested in collecting the other legions and I even 'upgraded' this one but will never part with this one despite the hole, crack and 'patina' (from being hoarded with copper coins, I assume). I don't think there is anyone else here who cares about the SS legions (Bing is our Antony man) let alone getting the set. I might not have had the first one I found not been the 'rare' (Reka Devnia 0) one albeit ugly. From here, the rest were easy.
I'm afraid you have a silver grosso there instead of a gold ducat. The ducats would have Christ standing and the Doge kneeling
No need to be sorry at all. In fact I appreciate the heads up very much. I will contact the auction house.
Although this thread did not turn out as I expected I have enjoyed the few coins posted. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say. I have this old US Lincoln wheat cent that's not worth much at all, but priceless to me as my Uncle had it in his pocket the day he passed away in 2012. Perhaps @Orfew can start us up a new Ugly Coin thread. -d
Okay, I'll post my ugliest: Vitellius 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. I keep it because it would be too expensive to upgrade. I've been looking for a bargain Vitellius for many years, but anything decent is out of my price range. Someday, maybe . . .
Ugly coin that I keep because I might have the only one of its kind (I know it's unlikely, but ... ). Severus Alexander and Julia Mamaea Moesia Inferior, Marcianopolis AE Pentassarion 10.1 g; 25.7 mm Obv: ΑVΓ ΚΜ Α[VΡ CΕVΗ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟC ΚΑΙ] ΙΟVΛΙΑ ΜΑΜΑΙΑ, confronted busts. Rev: ΗΓ Ȣ [ΤΕΡΕΒΕΝΤΙΝΟV ΜΑΡ]ΚΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΙΤ-ΩΝ, Dikaiosyne standing l., holding scales and cornucopiae, E (5) in field, r. Not listed in: AMNG, Moushmov, Varbanov, Hirstova and Jelov, BMC Greek, Sear Greek Imp, SNG Cop, SNG von Aulock.
This is a very ugly, but fairly rare, sextans - Crawford 134/6 LPLH. It was worth £22.50 I paid for it
I like ugly, holed, mounted coins. Mostly because I can afford 'em, but sometimes they have a certain charm because of the damage. I posted this one a while back, a RR denarius with a hole and "love token" engraving https://www.cointalk.com/threads/roman-republican-denarius-love-token-c-1800.298286/#post-2771456 Roman Republic Denarius L. Antestius Gragulus (136 B.C.) Helmeted head of Roma rt; monogram XVI below chin, behind, GRAG / Jupiter in quadriga left w. thunderbolt; below, L·ANTES; ROMA in exergue. Antestia 9; BMC 4029; Syd. 451; Craw. 238/1
I like the love token denarius too. I bought a love token dime at a coin club auction. It had the initials of a club member. My wife made me give it to her husband so he could give it to her. It was a modern coin (18-something), so no pics. I have plenty that fit here. Some I like, like my half As collection: I am less pleased with some, like a recent to be attributed RR bronze lot that included: fouree cores of a denarius of C VIBVS PANSA and an anonymous Victoriatus.
Here is my holed Constantine. Not totally ugly because the helmet is kind of nice, but still basically ruined.
I think the hole adds something to a coin in this grade. It adds character. You can try to guess who wore the coin and where.
My Caesar Fouree is pretty ugly: Roman Imperitorial Julius Caesar, (49-48 B.C. Original) Traveling Mint in Gaul, Fouree Denarius, 18.32mm x 3 grams Obv.: CAESAR in exergue, elephant right, trampling on serpent Rev.: Simpulum, sprinkler, axe and priest's hat
Correct! I believe that’s a silver Matapan (grosso) which was gold plated (jewelry) perhaps still in medieval times.