worst condition coin in your collection

I have several poor condition coins in my collection and decided to see which ones were the worst. It was a toss up between the two coins below; both of which are fairly tough to find.



Constantine I
AD 307- 308
26x27mm 5.6g
IMP C CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear.
VIRT PERP CONSTANTINI AVG; Virtus, holding Victory on globe, spear and shield; captive seated left.
In ex. PLC
RIC VI Lugdunum 285




Maximinus II
A.D. 305- 306
26x28mm 8.5g
MAXIMINVS NOB CAES; laureate helmeted, cuirassed bust left, with spear over right shoulder and shield on left arm.
VIRTVS AVGG ET CAESS NN, Prince on horseback, with shield on left arm, galloping right and spearing kneeling enemy, second enemy prostrate on ground.
In ex. AQΓ
RIC VI Aquileia 68b



post your ugly coins that still deserve some respect.

 

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I don't know if it deserves respect, but this is the most worn but still identifiable coin in my collection. The ID is made by recognizing the portrait as belonging to Julia Domna as she has a distinctive hairstyle. It also came down to knowing that corn ears and a long torch are attributes of Ceres.


Julia Domna, AD 193-217.
Roman Æ as, 13.49 g, 27.6 mm, 5 h.
Rome, AD 198.
Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: CERES S C, Ceres standing left, holding corn ears and long torch; altar at feet, left.
Refs: RIC 870; BMCRE 781; Cohen 19; RCV 6636; Hill 346.

Here's the example in the British Museum for comparison:

 

Very rare


Geta (209 - 211 A.D.)
AR Drachm
Cappadocia, Caesarea-Eusebia
O: AY K Π CEΠTI ΓETAC AVΓ Laureate bust of Geta right.
O: MHTPO KAICAP NEO, Mt. Argaeus surmounted by star.“ET IQ” = year 19 = 210/11
3.04g
16mm
Sydenham/Malloy, p. 153, 498a, Ganschow 649c; Henseler 986; Berlin 18224071

Scarce and sometimes gets cancer (bronze disease), but still love the fat fool.


Vitellius (69 A.D.)
Egypt, Alexandria
Billon Tetradrachm
O: ΩΛΟΥ ΟΥΙΤ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ ΑΥΤ, laureate head right.
R: Nike advancing left, holding wreath with her extended right hand and palm frond with her left; LA (date) to left.
26mm
12.1g
RPC 5372; Köln 260-2; Dattari 340; K&G 19.1. Emmett 196.1

 

Here's a contender:


EGYPT, Alexandria. Augustus
80 drachmai (diobol); 26 mm, 14.2 gm
First series, struck circa 30-28 BC
Obv: bare head right
Rev: eagle standing left on thunderbolt; cornucopia to left, Π to right
Ref: Emmett 1; RPC I 5001

Being an Alexandrian collector, I had to have an Emmett 1. Unfortunately they don't appear often. One of these days I hope to get a better example.

 

Boy, Victor if those are your worst I’m embarrassed for my little misfit coins . I like both of them!

I have a few contenders. I like crummy looking coins just fine.

Roman Empire
Helena (AD 325-330)
AE3, Heraclea mint, struck ca. AD 324-328.
Dia.: 19.8 mm
Wt.: 1.3 g
Obv.: FL HELENA AVGVSTA; Diademed, mantled bust right, wearing necklace.
Rev.: SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE; Securitas standing left, lowering branch and raising hem of robe with right hand.
Ref.: RIC VII Heraclea 95. Mintmark SMH Epsilon.


Roman Empire
Aurelian (AD 270-275)
Dia.: 18.2 mm
Wt.: 1.5 g
Obv.: Radiate, draped bust right.
Rev.: IOVI CON-SER (?); Emperor standing right, (holding sceptre?), receiving globe from Jupiter, standing left holding sceptre.


Roman Empire
Aurelian (AD 270-275)
AE Denarius, Rome mint, 1st officina
Dia.: 18.5 mm
Wt.: 2.2 g
Obv.:IMP AVRELIANVS AVG; Laureate, draped bust right.
Rev.: VICTORIA AVG; Victory walking left, holding wreath and palm, captive at food left. A in exergue
Ref.: RIC V-a 73


Roman Empire
Probus (AD 276-282)
AE Antoninianus, Siscia mint, 4th officina
Dia.: 21 mm
Wt.: 3.1 g
Obv.: IMP C M AVR PROBVS P AVG; Radiate bust left, in imperial mantle holding eagle-tipped scepter.
Rev.: SOL INVICTO; Sol driving quadriga left, holding whip and globe and raising hand; XXIQ
Ref.: RIC V-b 774

Roman Empire
Divius Claudius Gothicus
AE Quinarius(?), possibly struck at irregular mint in Gaul
Dia.: 17 mm
Wt.: 1.8 g
Obv.: DIVO CLAVDIO; Radiate head right.
Rev.: CONSECRATIO; Eagle standing left, head right.
Ref.: RIC V-a 266(var)

 

Fun thread idea! Though, I decided to go earlier, as I don't have many LRBs:

Livia as Julia Augusta
Æ Sestertius. Rome, AD 22.
Decorated carpentum drawn
r. by two mules / Legend
around large S •, RIC
Tiberius 51. 23.1g, 36mm,
9h.

Britannicus, with Octavia and Antonia
Mysia, Kyzikos, AD.41-55. AE (12mm, 1.29g). NЄOC ΓЄPMANIKOC / K - Y. Bare head of Britannicus right. / AN OKTA. Confronted and draped busts of Antonia and Octavia. RPC 2248. Rare! Former Kairos Numismatik

And my most scrubby has got to be this rad slate that was countermarked during the tumult of the over throw of Nero:

PR=Populus Romanus
- The Roman People. AE 24.2 MM, 6.5 gr. This countermark was used by the rebels in Gaul under the leadership of Julius Vindex during the months of March through June of 68 CE. Used mostly upon dupondii and Asses. Coin appears intentionally slate as these were known to deface and denounce the current powers that be.
Ex: CNG

 

This is hands down the crummiest (Next to some uncleaned slugs).

However, I found it in the coin reject bin at the bank so it is definitely worthy of a place in my collection I think

Claudius II Gothicus Silvered AE Antoninianus. Antioch mint. IMP C CLAVDIVS AVG, radiate, draped, cuirassed bust right / DIANAE VICTR, Diana standing right, holding bow and reaching for arrow from quiver on her back, stag to right, H in ex.

 

congratulations everyone...those are some terrible coins!

here's another in my collection with a face only a mother could love...but it is another rarer coin.



Constantine I
A.D. 310-12
22mm 3.7g
CONSTANTINVS P AVG; Laureate and cuirassed bust left with eagle-tipped sceptre.
CONCORD MILIT; Concordia standing left, holding standard in each hand; ✶ in right field
In ex. PLN
RIC VI London --; LMCC 7.04.021


Not in RIC for obverse legend with bust type

 

Ugliest tet category....Galba, Roman Egypt.



It is underweight, about 8 grams due to the pitting and corrosion.

 

Some of the worst condition coins in my collection are my favorites. I show ancient coins at coin shows, coin club meetings and at the San Jacinto Day Festival. I ask young folks what the oldest coin they have held and let them hold an As from 150 BC (plus or minus a century).

All RR, est 150 BC on size.


these are a bit newer, I'd guess most are 100 AD (plus or minus a century)


I have a couple of denarii that are worn smooth. This is my only L. Papius Celsus; denarius; 45 BC; Cr 472/1. I bought it at a Houston coin show from an out of town dealer that I wanted to make the trip again.

 

Ugly portrait and worn reverse, but also one of the rarest in my collection.
Ephesus Antoninus Pius with three temples and Artemis central. 35.6mm, 19gm, RPC Online, Volume IV, 8474. Rare.
Obverse inscription Τ ΑΙΛ ΚΑΙСΑΡ ΑΝΤΩΝƐΙΝΟС
Obverse design laureate head of Antoninus Pius, r.
Reverse inscription ƐΦƐСΙΩΝ ΔΙС ΝƐΩΚΟΡΩΝ
Reverse design temple with four columns enclosing statue of Artemis of Ephesus standing, facing, wearing kalathos, having supports; between two temples, each in perspective, with two frontal columns and an enclosed imperial statue

 

I would certainly never buy a coin that looked like this now. But it happens to be not only the worst but also the very first ancient coin I ever bought, back in the 1960s when I was 8 or 9 years old, at a local coin shop a couple of blocks from where I lived. At the time, I was mostly buying old British pennies and other cheap world coins with my allowance, but the idea of this one actually being ancient appealed to me. I probably paid 25 cents or so for it. I don't really think of it as being in my collection (it's not in the personal catalog I keep), but I still have it, so I suppose it technically still is.

Constantine I, City Commemorative. AE 3 or 4. Trier. 332-333 AD. CONSTAN-TINOPOLIS, helmeted bust of Constantinopolis left, sceptre over shoulder / Victory standing facing on prow, head left, holding sceptre and resting hand on shield. [Mintmark TRS star. RIC VII Trier 548, Sear 16445; OR Mintmark TRP dot. RIC VII Trier 530, Sear 16444. 17 mm, 1.0 g.

 

I think my Cleo earns that designation:


Runner-up might be this Adventus of Constantine from London (a rare variety, too)... purchased from the excellent @Victor_Clark! I love it.

 

I have his brother coin, the SPES version, that is in fairly rough condition; but it is part of my family now.



Constantine I
A.D. 311- 312
23x25mm 4.2g
CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate and cuirassed bust right.
SPES REIPVBL; Prince riding left, r. raised, l. holding up spear, on horse pawing seated captive to left, ✶in right field.
in ex. PLN
RIC VI London 241; LMCC 7.08.014

 

I’d say either my Aelia Verina:

Aelia Verina, Eastern Roman Empire
AE2
Obv: AEL VERINA AVG, diademed, draped bust right
Rev: SALVS RE-PVBLICAE, Victory seated right, inscribing chi-rho on shield
Mint: Constantinople
Mintmark: CONE in ex
Date: 457-474 AD
Ref: RIC X 656



Or my Baduila 2.5 nummi coin:

Baduila, Ostrogothic Kingdom
AE 2.5 nummi
Obv: Pearl-diademed, draped bust of Anastasius right
Rev: Monogram of Baduila
Mint: Ticinum
Date: 541-552 AD
Ref: MIB 87; Kraus 69; Metlich 94

 

I have a pretty toasty Baduila



Baduila (541-552)
Decanummium (16mm 5.1g). Rome
D N BADVILA REX. Helmeted and cuirassed bust facing.
FLOREAS SEMPER. King standing right with shield and spear, X in right field.
Metlich 98b; MEC 162.

 

I generally like worn coins with decent surfaces but this Antony would be more welcome if I could read the Legion number. I do not recall where I got it but I never gave it an accession number.

 

Wow, where to begin...

Maybe at the beginning, with one of my earliest acquisitions. I'd sell this awful Elagabalus provincial, but who on earth would buy it? Nor could I in good conscience gift it anyone. I guess I'm just stuck with the old monster.


ELAGABALUS
AE25. 10.14g, 25.1mm. MACEDONIA, Thessalonica, AD 218-222. Varbanov 4444. O: AV K M AVP ANTΩNINOC, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. R: ΘΕCCAΛΟΝΙΚΕΩΝ, Nike advancing left, holding small Kabirus and palm branch.

It may be cheating to include fourrées, but since there are actually some very nice ones out there, I feel I can be allowed to show a couple that are appropriate to the thread theme.


THRACE, Thasos
Fourrée Drachm (Holed). 2.74g, 15.8mm. ISLANDS OFF THRACE, Thasos, circa 412-404 BC for prototype. Cf. HGC 6, 336. O: Ithyphallic satyr advancing partly to right, carrying protesting nymph; both in Classical style. R: Quadripartite incuse square.


AUGUSTUS
Fourrée Denarius (Holed). 2.61g, 18.5mm. Contemporary plated forgery after Rome mint, circa 13 BC, C. Antistius Reginus (moneyer). cf. RIC I 410. O: CAESAR AVGVSTVS, bare head right. R: C • ANTISTIVS • REGINVS III • VIR, sacrificial implements: simpulum and lituus above tripod and patera.

My favorite ugly coin, though, also happens to be the favorite coin in my whole collection:


CRETE, Gortyna
AR Stater. 11.77g, 29.8mm. CRETE, Gortyna, circa 330-270 BC. SNG Cop -; Svoronos 36/62 (same obv die as 36, pl. XIII, 10; rev of 62, pl. XIV, 9); BMC Crete pg. 38, 7/8, pl. IX. 6 (same obv die) and 7 (same rev die?). O: Europa, wearing chiton with short sleeves and peplos over lower limbs, seated right in platanus tree; right hand on tree, head resting pensively on left arm, which is bent and supported by her knee. R: Bull standing to right, head turned back left to lick its flank.
Notes: Overstruck on a stater of Knossos, circa 425-360 BC (Svoronos 23), with visible undertypes of the Minotaur on obv and Labyrinth of Knossos on rev.

 

Mine is a holed comet denarius from Augustus. This is my favorite coin design. I've added two others in nicer condition to my collection, but this battered and abused one is my favorite.

Holed Comet, Poor Inscription by JGGonzalez posted Jan 23, 2017 at 5:31 PM

 

Well, I have more than I want. And some of the coins I have seen on this thread are not that terrible ... especially compared to mine.
Here are some coins I bought before starting collecting ancients, 6-7 years ago, from some numismatic shows where an old man was having those. With a price of 2 EUR/coin and today I think this is too much.
Those days I thought this is the standard quality for ancient coins, this is why I wasn't very into them, thinking that a higher quality for any coin means very prohibitive prices. I was a little surprised, a few years later, seeing VF coins on the market. With good prices.



Identified as Dicletian Genio Populi Romani from Aquileia.


Identified it myself as a Probus (RIC 191) with a hexastyle temple on reverse. Or what it was a hexastyle temple. This is why I bought a similar coin, recently, and I think the comparison says enough


Some other LRBs where clear identification is impossible




... and a coin that was identified with the help of a CT member - I knew it was Antoninus Pius (although the seller gladly promoted it as Julius Caesar)

The reverse shows Fortuna with rudder - can't narrow it down more.

When I started collecting ancients, I wasn't sure these should be included in my albums and personal catalog, but I decided to add them. They are still ancient coins, but I tried to raise my standards.

From the coins I bought after learning a thing or two, I think this is the worst.


AEOLIS, Kyme (ca 450-400 BC) AR Hemiobol
Head of eagle left; KY–M around; Quadripartite incuse square.
0,32 g, 8 mm

Very bad quality for a common coin, but my winning bid was 3 EUR.