During (probably late) in A.D. 193 there was a series of reverses minted in Emesa that had legends ending in II COS. They combine the A.D. 193 legend "IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG" with a range of reverse types and these odd II COS reverse legends. These are all generally rare. An example of one of this series is illsutrated below. There are a few examples of the II COS that come from different, later obverse dies such as the AVG II C example below. Now we come to my two UGLY coins from the title of the thread. These come from a rare obverse die with the legend "IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG II COS". Ugly coin 1 (my newest acquisition):- Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SE-V PERT AVG II CO-S, Laureate head right Rev:– FORTVNAE REDVCI II COS, Fortuna standing left holding rudder and cornucopia Minted in Emesa, 194 - 195 A.D. References:– RIC -. RSC -. BMC -. A double die match to the only other coin from this obverse die known to Curtis Clay, which is in his collection ex Michael Kelly collection, which is in nicer condition all round. Ugly coin 2:- Obv:– IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG II COS, Laureate head right Rev:– BONAE SPEI II COS, Spes standing holding flower and lifting skirt Minted in Emesa, 194 - 195 A.D. References:– RIC -. RSC -. BMC -. The only known example. Ugly coin 1 allows me to independantly confirm the identity of the obverse die of ugly coin 2. These .coins are highly important in my collection despite being UGLY.
Considering it is the only known example who cares if it's ugly? If there was only one known example of woman left alive somehow, would it really matter much what she looked like?
I've seen worse. These are the kinds of finds that appeal to specialists, and I can appreciate the gestalt of your post even though I don't specialize in these coins. I am much more thrilled at acquiring some obscure variety of a coin I do specialize in, rather than buying that "nice" type coin.
not being a sep serve specialist (or an anything specialist), i still find number 2 appealing, rare or no. i do sort of specialize in ugly coins i guess.
Maybe they're ugly compared to the rest of Martin's collection, in his opinion - but check eBay any day of the week for dozens of extremely worn, poorly struck, off-center, common S.S. denarii. They are the ugly ones.
That was my thought when I bought this one which I believe to be the ugliest IICOS reverse woman (Julia Domna) 'left alive'. The double striking helped nothing. Who has her pretty sister?
Those coins sure are ugly but I think I'd want a couple of them anyways. lol Coins only a serious collector or specialist could love!
The reverse on the 2nd ugly coin is quite nice. The closest I have to a one of a kind is a 1 of 14 known Abbasid fals.
