Worn But Not Worthless

Sometimes a coin comes along that despite the wear still has a lot of eye appeal. IMHO, my latest addition is one such coin.


Titus as Caesar
Æ Sestertius, 23.43g
Rome mint, 72 AD (Vespasian)
RIC 423 (C). BMC 633.
Obv: T CAES VESPASIAN IMP PON TR POT COS II; Head of Titus, laureate, bearded, r.
Rev: PAX AVGVSTI; S C in field; Pax stg. l., with branch and cornucopiae
Ex Holding History, eBay, 16 March 2019.

After the recent Civil War and Jewish and Batavian rebellions this common Pax reverse type from 72 had special propaganda value for the new Flavian regime: peace and prosperity. It would be one of the more popular themes of Vespasian's coinage. Unsurprisingly, this Pax type is shared with Vespasian.

Although considerably worn, I think enough of the fine style portrait shines through. The dark chocolate patina helps too.

Post your worn beauties!

 

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That IS a beauty, @David Atherton !

The Antonine period was characterized by peace and prosperity and the coinage was stable for many years. As a consequence, sestertii circulated for decades. Here's a husband and wife pair of worn beauties:

 

Your right David, although worn still has great eye appeal.
Antoninus Pius. Temple of Roma and Venus, AE Sestertius 141 AD, 25.3gm, RIC 622.
Ephesus Antoninus Pius with three temples and Artemis central. 35.6mm, 19gm, BMC 78, 235.

 

A lovely coin David. Here is a worn coin that is a favorite of mine.

Julius Caesar

 

My worn but very attractive Hadrian sestertius

 

My Macrinus with similar issues to the OP coin, worn legends but a nice style portrait more than compensates.

 

I suppose I could share my whole collection on this thread...

 

The reverse on that AP is magnificent!

 

Mint state coins went straight from the mint to the distributor(s) to the payee to the ground. Worn coins' stories are lost to us, but there's something special about imagining what hands it passed through before us.

 

I've been thinking of a thread like this.

I started a photo file of coins that I think fit the bill, worn smooth, but still have eye appeal.
Apameia, Phrygia



Colonia Patricia



Corinth



Euboia Histiaia



Irripo, Spain



Osset, Spain



Thrace, Kallatis

 

I think this thread will likely go on for a long time, I'm sure everyone has worn coins in their collection. Here is my favorite:


Caracalla, 198 – 217 AD
Æ29, Cilicia, Tarsus Mint, 18.20 grams

Obverse: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Caracalla right seen from behind with shield.

Reverse: Artemis standing right, left knee on back of doe on ground, left hand pulls head of doe back exposing neck, grasps dagger in right hand about to dispatch the animal.

References:
Unpublished. Same dies as example sold by Roma Numismatics Limited, Auction 7, Lot 875.


Cost:
$120

Provenance:
Steve Showers, San Francisco Bourse, 1999.

Notes:
One of two known.

 

As Clavdivs suggests, pretty much my whole collection qualifies for this thread. Here are two Antonine sestertii - one with the temple of Antoninus & Faustina, the other with the column of Antoninus. Both with a lot of wear, but I like them:

 

I really enjoy worn coins @David Atherton , really shows their circulation in everyday life.

PIGS!


RI Titus 79-81 CE AR Denarius Sow piglets

 

Is that "pigs three different ones"?

 

Actually 4. The Sow pig and 3 piglets on flan.

 

My favorite well used As is a forato - perforated. I had to look up forato.


In the case of this coin, the picture shows more detail than the coin.

Mt Forato -

 

Sorry Brian, I was making a joking reference to an old Pink Floyd song.

 

I'll add worn coins to my collection if they meet my standards of rarity; i.e. types that appear on average no more than a few times per decade. Here are a couple.

Phil Davis

 

@Ken Dorney That reverse is magical. The wear makes it look like some sort of paper craft silhouette work.